English
Highness
Highness comes from Late Latin altitia ‘highness (all senses)’, from Latin altus ‘tall, lofty’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- ‘grow, nourish’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂el-‘grow, nourish’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eltósreconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*altosreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEaltus‘tall, lofty’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEaltitia‘highness (all senses)’
- EnglishtodayHighness
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂el-‘grow, nourish’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eltósreconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*altosreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEaltus‘tall, lofty’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEaltitia‘highness (all senses)’
- EnglishtodayHighness
Formed from high + -ness
Proto-Indo-European *kewk- ‘to bend’
Proto-Germanic *hauhaz
Proto-West Germanic *hauh
Old English hēah ‘high’
Middle English high
English high
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- ‘grow, nourish’
as, all, else, adult, el, ultimate, element, alien, ultra, alternate, alter, ellen, alumni, qualification, outrage, ou, abolish, alias, adolescent, alpine, alum, alibi, retaliate, alimony, alp, proletariat, altruism, ulterior, parallax, foetal, althea, coalesce, aad, withal, 64 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂eltós
old, elder, auld, eld, 14 more
through Latin altus ‘tall, lofty’
altitude, alt, altar, alto, exalt, haut, haughty, altimeter, 13 more
Today it means
noun The style of a prince, princess or someone of equivalent rank.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- / Highness