English
blithe
Blithe comes from Middle English blithe ‘glad, happy, joyful’, from Proto-Germanic *blīþiz ‘friendly’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- ‘shiny’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰel-‘shiny’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰlī-‘fine’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*blīþiz‘friendly’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*blīþī‘happy’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150blīþe‘happy, gentle’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500blithe‘glad, happy, joyful’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1588–1593same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰel-‘shiny’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰlī-‘fine’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*blīþiz‘friendly’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*blīþī‘happy’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150blīþe‘happy, gentle’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500blithe‘glad, happy, joyful’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1588–1593same form
Earliest quotation: c. 1588–1593, William Shakespeare, The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus: “And now ſweet Emperour be blithe againe, And bury…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- ‘shiny’
ball, bowl, bell, bull, bold, flame, bald, boil, bale, blaze, bolster, blush, bleach, blur, budge, blizzard, sabha, bola, blemish, phlegm, phallus, bolero, phlox, blain, bleat, 74 more
through Proto-Germanic *blīþiz ‘friendly’
through Proto-West Germanic *blīþī ‘happy’
Today it means
adj Casually careless or indifferent; showing a lack of concern; nonchalant.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- / blithe