English
blindness
Blindness comes from Proto-Germanic *blindaz ‘blind’, from *blandaną ‘to blend, mix’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰlendʰ-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰlendʰ-‘to blend’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*blandaną‘to blend, mix’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*blindaz‘blind’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*blindreconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150blind
- Old English, derivedc. 450–1150blindnes
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500blyndnes
- Englishearliest quotation 1976blindness
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰlendʰ-‘to blend’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*blandaną‘to blend, mix’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*blindaz‘blind’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*blindreconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150blind
- Old English, derivedc. 450–1150blindnes
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500blyndnes
- Englishearliest quotation 1976blindness
Earliest quotation: 1976, Frank Herbert: “A tormenting hunger shuddered through her and she wished…”
Formed from blind + -ness
Proto-Indo-European *bʰlendʰ- ‘to blend’
…
Proto-Germanic *blindaz
Proto-West Germanic *blind
Old English blind
Middle English blynd ‘blind’
English blind
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *bʰlendʰ- ‘to blend’
through Proto-Germanic *blandaną ‘to blend, mix’
Today it means
noun The condition of being blind; unable to see.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *bʰlendʰ- / blindness