steepness etymology

Etymology:

  • Middle English: steepnesse
  • Old English: stēpnes
  • Proto-West Germanic: *staipinais
  • Proto-Germanic: *staihpanaz
  • Proto-Indo-European: *(s)teigʰ-

Meaning:

Comparative sharpness of ascent or descent; the degree of incline or declination.

Origin:

The word "steepness" is derived from the Old English term "stēpnes," which referred to the "quality of being steep." This term is itself believed to have originated from the Proto-West Germanic root "staipinais," meaning "difficult to climb." The root is related to the Proto-Germanic verb "staihpan," meaning "to climb" or "to ascend."

Ultimately, the word "steepness" traces its roots back to the Proto-Indo-European root *(s)teigʰ-, which means "to rise" or "to ascend." This root is also found in other words related to height and elevation, such as "stair" and "stile."

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