English
brook
Brook comes from Middle English brouken ‘to use, enjoy’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *bʰruHg-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰruHg-‘to enjoy’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*brūkaną‘to enjoy, use’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*brūkan‘to use, employ’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150brūcan‘to enjoy, brook, use, possess, partake of, spend’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500brouken‘to use, enjoy’
- Englishearliest quotation 1595brook
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰruHg-‘to enjoy’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*brūkaną‘to enjoy, use’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*brūkan‘to use, employ’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150brūcan‘to enjoy, brook, use, possess, partake of, spend’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500brouken‘to use, enjoy’
- Englishearliest quotation 1595brook
Earliest quotation: 1595, The Life and Death of King Richard the Second: “Yea, my Lord: how brooks your Grace the ayre,…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *bʰruHg- ‘to enjoy’
Another origin of brook
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*brōk‘stream’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150brōc
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500brook
- Englishtodaysame form
Today it means
verb To bear; endure; support; put up with; tolerate.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *bʰruHg- / brook