English
frame
Frame comes from Middle English framen ‘to construct’, from Old English fremman ‘to profit, advance’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *pró ‘toward’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pró‘toward, leading to’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*prómosreconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*framazreconstructed
- Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*framjaną‘to further, promote’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*frammjan‘to promote’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150fremman‘to profit, avail, advance’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500framen‘to construct’
- Englishearliest quotation 1531frame
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pró‘toward, leading to’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*prómosreconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*framazreconstructed
- Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*framjaną‘to further, promote’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*frammjan‘to promote’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150fremman‘to profit, avail, advance’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500framen‘to construct’
- Englishearliest quotation 1531frame
Earliest quotation: 1531, William Tyndale: “When thou hast turned them all ways, and done…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *promo- ‘front, forward’
Another origin of frame
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500frame‘profit, benefit, advantage’
- Englishtodayframe
From Middle English frame (‘profit, benefit, advantage; a structure composed according to a plan’), from the verb (above) and also from Old Norse frami (‘advantage, fame, bravery, efficiency, privilege, honor’); and frame (‘a framework or structure of any kind’) which is of uncertain origin.uncertain The source flags this step as uncertain. The latter is usually regarded as a derivative of former; however, compare the rare Anglo-Norman and Old French frame, fraine (‘frame, framework’), itself of uncertain origin, which might be a borrowing from the English, from the Norse, or even possibly ultimately from Frankish *hramu (‘frame’) related to Dutch raam (‘window frame’).uncertain The source flags this step as uncertain.
Today it means
verb To fit, as for a specific end or purpose; make suitable or comfortable; adapt; adjust.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *pró / frame