Etymograph

English

ardent

Ardent comes from Latin ardeō ‘to burn’, from āridus ‘dry, parched, withered, arid’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eHs-.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eHs-‘to be dry, to dry’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eHs-eh₁yetireconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*āzēōreconstructed
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEāreō‘to be dry’
  5. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEāridus‘dry, parched, withered, arid’
  6. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEardeō‘to burn’
  7. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEardentempresent participle of ardeō
  8. Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400ardent
  9. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500ardaunt
  10. Englishearliest quotation 1750ardent

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eHs-‘to be dry, to dry’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eHs-eh₁yetireconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*āzēōreconstructed
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEāreō‘to be dry’
  5. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEāridus‘dry, parched, withered, arid’
  6. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEardeō‘to burn’
  7. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEardentempresent participle of ardeō
  8. Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400ardent
  9. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500ardaunt
  10. Englishearliest quotation 1750ardent

Earliest quotation: 1750, Theodora: “Nor gushing tears, nor ardent prayers, shall shake our…”

first attested First attested circa 14th century as Middle English ardaunt, borrowed from Anglo-Norman ardent and Old French ardant, from Latin ardentem, accusative of ardēns, present participle of ardeō (“to burn”) (as stated in the etymology)

The story

First attested circa 14th century as Middle English ardaunt, borrowed from Anglo-Norman ardent and Old French ardant, from Latin ardentem, accusative of ardēns, present participle of ardeō (‘to burn’).

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *h₂eHs- ‘to be dry, to dry’

are, star, ash, stellar, asterisk, azalea, ashy, ashen, areal, 6 more

through Latin āreō ‘to be dry’

arent, 2 more

through Latin āridus ‘dry, parched, withered, arid’

arid, 2 more

through Latin ardeō ‘to burn’

arson, ardor, 1 more

Today it means

adj Full of ardor; expressing passion, spirit, or enthusiasm.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂eHs- / ardent

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