step etymology

Etymology:

  • Old English steop
  • Proto-Germanic *stepa-
  • Proto-Indo-European *(s)tep-

Meaning and Origin:

The word "step" has several related meanings:

  1. A single movement made by lifting and placing one foot in front of the other during walking or running:
  • Originates from the Old English steop, which had the same meaning.
  • Cognates include German Stufe, Dutch stap, and Norwegian stig.
  1. A physical distance covered by such a movement:
  • Derived from the primary meaning of a step as a movement.
  1. A level or platform, typically one of a series, rising one above the other:
  • Developed from the idea of a step as a single vertical movement or the distance covered by that movement.
  • Related to the word "stair", which comes from the Proto-Norse steigar.
  1. A stage or level in a process, development, or progression:
  • Metaphorical extension from the physical concept of a step as a progression or advancement.
  1. A dance move characterized by a sliding movement made by one foot while the other remains still:
  • Developed from the similarity of the movement to a walking step.
  1. A verb meaning to move or advance by taking steps:
  • Derived from the noun meaning a single movement of the foot.

step relate terms

  • orphan

  • robot

    Etymology The word robot comes from the Czech word robota which means forced labor

  • steep

    Etymology The word steep comes from the Old English word stēap which means high

  • stepmother

    Etymology The word stepmother is derived from two Old English words steop meanin

  • grade

    Etymology The word grade comes from the Latin word gradus which means step or de

  • aggressive

    Etymology The word aggressive comes from the Latin word aggressus meaning an attac

  • aggression

    Etymology of Aggression The term aggression derives from the Latin word aggressio w

  • sashay

  • degree

    Etymology The word degree comes from the Latin word gradus which means step or st

  • institute

    Etymology The word institute comes from the Latin word institutum which means an es

  • overcome

    Etymology Over from the Old English ofer meaning above or upon Come from the Ol

  • diamond

    Etymology The word diamond comes from the Greek word adámas meaning unconquerable