hover etymology

Etymology:

• Middle English: hoveren, from Old English hofian, meaning "to float in the air"
• Related to hof, meaning "hoof" (referring to the act of hovering over something like a hoof over a surface)

Meaning:

• To remain suspended in the air, often without moving
• To move slowly and steadily over or around something
• To be on the verge of something (e.g., a decision or event)

Origin:

The word "hover" originated in the early 12th century in Middle English. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word hofian, which meant "to float in the air." This word is related to hof, meaning "hoof," likely referring to the way a hoof hovers over a surface.

Over time, the meaning of "hover" expanded to include not only floating in the air but also moving slowly and steadily over or around something. By the 16th century, it had acquired the metaphorical sense of being on the verge of something.

hover relate terms

• hove

  Etymology The word hove is derived from the Old English word hof meaning a dwellin

• hover

  Etymology Middle English hoveren from Old English hofian meaning to float in the ai

• bicker

  Etymology Old English bicrian meaning to skirmish to quarrel From Proto Germanic

• blabber

  Etymology The word blabber is derived from Old English blab b ere meaning to gossi

• hover

  Etymology Middle English hoveren from Old English hofian meaning to float in the ai

• patter

  Etymology The word pattern is derived from the Middle English patron which in turn

• bickering

  Etymology Bicker comes from the Middle English word bicren meaning to quarrel T

• linger

  Etymology Middle English lingren from Old English langian to remain stay linger

• oscillate

  Etymology The word oscillate is derived from the Latin word oscillāre which means

• brood

  Etymology The word brood comes from the Middle English word brod which is derived fr

• float

  Etymology French flotter to float Latin fluctuare to move in waves Proto Indo Euro

• vague

  Etymology Origin of the Word The word vague is derived from the Latin word vagus m

• wince

  Etymology The word wince comes from the Middle English word winchen which is a vari

• plane

  Etymology The word plane has its origins in the Latin word planus which means flat

• shilly shally

  Etymology and Origin The word shilly shally is a reduplication of shilly an archaic

• wing

  Etymology The word wing comes from the Old English word weng which likely originate

• poise

  Etymology The word poise has two main etymological origins Old French pois meani