still etymology

Etymology

The word "still" has multiple etymological origins:

  • Old English: "stille," meaning "calm, quiet"
  • Proto-Germanic: "*stillja," meaning "silent, peaceful"
  • Old Norse: "stillr," meaning "silent, motionless"

Meaning

  • Primary meaning: A state of rest, calm, or silence
  • Additional meanings:
    • Motionless or unchanging
    • Used as an adverb to indicate a continued state
    • Used as an adjective to describe something as quiet or undisturbed
    • A distillation apparatus used for producing alcoholic beverages

Origin

The word "still" originated from the Indo-European root "*stel-," which means "to stand firm." This root gave rise to words in various languages with similar meanings, such as:

  • Latin: "stabilis" (stable)
  • Greek: "stalis" (steadfast)
  • Russian: "stol" (table)
  • Sanskrit: "sthira" (firm)

In English, the word "still" initially referred to a state of being stationary or motionless. Over time, its meaning expanded to include the concepts of calm, silence, and the continuation of an action or state.

still relate terms

  • distill

    Etymology Distil verb Latin destillare De down away stillāre to dri

  • stillborn

    Etymology The word stillborn is derived from two Old English words still meaning m

  • still

    Etymology The word still has multiple etymological origins Old English stille me

  • born

    Etymology The word born comes from the Old English word beorn meaning child or s

  • moving

    Etymology The word moving comes from the Middle English word moven which in turn co

  • calm

    Etymology Middle English calmen from Old French calmer from Latin calmare meaning

  • quiet

    Etymology The word quiet originates from the Latin word quietus meaning rest ca

  • subsist

    Etymology From Middle English subsisten from Latin subsistere to stand firm to exis

  • nose ring

    Etymology The term nose ring is derived from two words Nose Referring to the body

  • brute

    Etymology The word brute is derived from the Old French word brute which in turn com

  • encore

    Etymology French encore meaning again Ultimately derived from Latin hanc horam

  • soothe

    Etymology Old English suðian to quiet to lull to sleep Proto Germanic suthjanan Pr

  • change

    Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin and development of words It traces words

  • agitate

    Etymology Latin agitare to stir up move about drive away excite frequentative of