thin etymology

Etymology:

The word "thin" is derived from the Old English word "þynne," which is itself derived from the Proto-Germanic root *þunnaz. This root is also the source of the words "thunder" and "thunderstorm" (which refer to the thin, rapidly moving air that is associated with thunderstorms).

Meaning:

The word "thin" has several related meanings:

  • Not thick: Having a small thickness or width in relation to its other dimensions.
  • Lacking substance or density: Not dense or concentrated.
  • Sparse: Not thickly packed or distributed.
  • Insufficient: Not enough to meet a need or purpose.
  • Weak or faint: Lacking strength or intensity.

Origin:

The Proto-Germanic root *þunnaz, from which "thin" is derived, is thought to be related to the Indo-European root *tenu-, meaning "stretched" or "thin." This suggests that the original meaning of "thin" may have been related to the idea of something that is stretched or drawn out.

thin relate terms

  • thick

    Etymology The word thick is derived from the Old English word þicc which meant thi

  • thin

    Etymology The word thin is derived from the Old English word þynne which is itself

  • thickset

    Etymology Late 16th century from thick set Meaning of a person or their body

  • thinner

    Etymology Old English þynne adjective þynn noun Proto Germanic þunþ Pr

  • thin

    Etymology The word thin is derived from the Old English word þynne which is itself

  • abstain

    Etymology Middle English abstynen Old French and Anglo Norman abstinence Latin absti

  • abstention

    Etymology The word abstention is derived from the Latin word abstinere which means

  • abstinence

    Etymology Late Middle English from Old French abstinence from Latin abstinentia from

  • abstinent

    Etymology The word abstinent comes from the Latin word abstinens which means refra

  • atelectasis

    Etymology The word atelectasis is derived from the Greek words ἀτελής atelē

  • attend

    Etymology Old French atendre Late Latin attendere from ad to towards tendere

  • attenuate

    Etymology Late Latin attenuare from Latin attenuis thin slender slight From Proto

  • attenuation

    Etymology Latin attenuare to make thin Proto Indo European ten thin Meani

  • baritone

    Etymology Late Middle English 14th century from Italian baritono from Greek barys

  • catatonia

    Etymology Catatonia is derived from Greek roots Kata down Tonos tone or te

  • catatonic

    Etymology Greek katatonia katá down tonos tension Meaning A state of reduced

  • contain

    Etymology Latin continere Late Latin contēnere Meaning To hold or enclose s

  • contend

    Etymology and Meaning Contend comes from the Latin word contendere which means to str

  • continue

    Etymology Latin continuus uninterrupted continuous Meaning and Origin 1 Cont

  • detain

    Etymology Old French detenir Latin detinere from detinere to detain hold back Pre

  • detente

    Etymology French détendre to loosen relax from Late Latin distendere to stretch ou

  • detention

    Etymology Derived from Latin detinere meaning to hold back detain or keep De

  • diatonic

    Etymology The word diatonic is derived from the Greek word διάτονος diatóno

  • distend

    Etymology From Middle English disten dysten c 1400 from Anglo Norman French disten

  • entertain

    Etymology Derivatives of the word entertain include Old French entartenir to hol

  • extend

    Etymology Origin Latin extendere meaning to stretch out Meaning To lengthen str

  • extenuate

    Etymology Latin extenuare Meaning to make thin weaken Meaning Extenuate mean

  • hypotenuse

    Etymology The word hypotenuse is derived from the Greek words hypo below or un

  • hypotonia

    Etymology hypo Greek under or below tonos Greek tone or tension Meanin

  • intend

    Etymology Middle English entenden from Anglo Norman French entendre from Medieval La

  • intone

    Etymology The word intone derives from the Latin verb intonāre meaning to thunder

  • isotonic

    Etymology The term isotonic is derived from two Greek roots iso meaning equal

  • lieutenant

    Etymology The word lieutenant comes from the Old French word lieutenant which in tur

  • locum tenens

    Etymology Latin locum place tenens holding Meaning A person who temporarily

  • maintain

    Etymology Derived from the Old French word maintenir which means to hold keep or

  • monotony

    Etymology Latin monotonia Greek monos single sole tonos tone Meaning

  • neoteny

    Etymology The word neoteny is derived from the Greek words neos νέος meaning

  • obtain

    Etymology the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have chang

  • ostensible

    Etymology Latin ostendere to show exhibit Past participle ostensus French os

  • peritoneum

    Etymology Greek peri around teinein to stretch Meaning A serous membran

  • pertain

    Etymology Latin pertinēre to belong to to have a relation to to concern Proto In

  • pertinacious

    Etymology Late Latin pertinacis pertinax resolute persistent Latin pertinere to

  • portend

    Etymology Old French portendre Latin portendere from porro forward tendere t

  • pretend

    Pretend Etymology From Middle English pretenden meaning to claim or profess to be

  • rein

    Rein Etymology The word rein is derived from the Middle English term reine which is

  • retain

    Etymology Retain is derived from the Latin word retinere meaning to hold back ke

  • retinue

    Etymology The word retinue is derived from the Old French word retenue which means

  • sitar

    Etymology The word sitar is derived from the Persian word setar which means three s

  • subtend

    Etymology Old French subtendre Latin sub under tendere to stretch Meaning

  • sustain

    Etymology Latin sustinēre to hold up sustain endure Proto Indo European steh₂

  • telangiectasia

    Etymology Telangiectasia is derived from the Greek roots Telangi meaning blood ves

  • temple

    Etymology The English word temple is derived from the Latin word templum which in t

  • temple

    Etymology The English word temple is derived from the Latin word templum which in t

  • temporal

    Etymology The word temporal is derived from Latin temporalis which in turn comes fro

  • tenable

    Etymology Latin tenēre to hold keep possess Indo European root ten to stretch

  • tenacious

    Etymology Latin tenax tenacis holding fast grasping Proto Indo European ten

  • tenacity

    Etymology Old French tence adjectival noun meaning tenacity Latin tenacitas tigh

  • tenant

    Etymology Old French tenant Latin tenens present participle of tenere to hold

  • tend

    Etymology The word tend comes from the Middle English word tenden which in turn com

  • tendency

    Etymology The word tendency comes from the Latin word tendere which means to stretc

  • tender

    Etymology The word tender comes from the Old French verb tendre meaning to stretch

  • tender

    Etymology The word tender comes from the Old French verb tendre meaning to stretch

  • tendon

    Etymology The word tendon is derived from the Latin word tendo which means I stretc

  • tendril

    Etymology Middle English tendel from Anglo Norman French tendel from Vulgar Lati

  • tenement

    Etymology Tenement originates from the Latin word tenere meaning to hold or to p

  • tenesmus

    Etymology Tenesmus comes from the Greek word teinō meaning to strain or stretch an

  • tenet

    Etymology Latin teneō meaning to hold keep or possess Meaning A principle

  • tennis

    Etymology The word tennis is derived from the French word tenez which means hold o

  • tenon

    Etymology Latin tenuis thin slender Old French tenon Meaning A protruding

  • tenor

    Etymology The word tenor comes from the Latin word tenere meaning to hold Meanin

  • tense

    Etymology Old French tens Latin tempus time Meaning A form of a verb that in

  • tensile

    Etymology The word tensile is derived from the Latin word tensilis meaning able to

  • tension

    Etymology Latin tensio a stretching Proto Indo European ten to stretch Me

  • tensor

    Etymology The word tensor is derived from the Latin verb tendere which means to str

  • tent

    Etymology The word tent originates from the Old French word tente which itself comes

  • tenterhooks

    Etymology Tenter refers to a frame used in clothmaking to stretch and dry fabric whi

  • tenuous

    Etymology The word tenuous comes from the Latin word tenuis meaning thin slender or

  • tenure

    Etymology Latin tenura holding tenure possession Old French tenure holding Midd

  • tetanus

    Etymology Greek tetanos Latin tetanus Meaning A rigid involuntary contracti

  • thin

    Etymology The word thin is derived from the Old English word þynne which is itself

  • tone

    Etymology Origin Middle English toune from Old English tun meaning enclosed set

  • tonic

    Etymology The word tonic comes from the Latin word tonicus which means pertaining

  • full

    Etymology Sanskrit pratipaksha prati against paksha side Meaning Opponen

  • thick

    Etymology The word thick is derived from the Old English word þicc which meant thi

  • thick

    Etymology The word thick is derived from the Old English word þicc which meant thi

  • attenuate

    Etymology Late Latin attenuare from Latin attenuis thin slender slight From Proto

  • meager

    Etymology The word meager originates from the Middle English word megre which is de

  • laminate

    Etymology Latin lamina thin plate or layer Middle English laminate Meaning

  • emaciation

    Etymology From Latin ēmaciātiō meaning a making thin From ēmaciāre meaning to

  • gain

    Etymology Anglo French gaignerie profit Middle French gaignier to earn Old French ga

  • lean

    Etymology Derived from the Old English word hlænan meaning to lean or incline Ger

  • slim

    Etymology The word slim is derived from the following Proto Germanic roots slim