English

healing

Healing comes from Proto-Germanic *hailijaną ‘to heal’, from *hailaz ‘whole, healthy’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kéh₂ilos.

Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kéh₂ilos‘healthy, whole’reconstructed
Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*hailaz‘whole, healthy’reconstructed
Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*hailijaną‘to heal’reconstructed
Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*hailingōreconstructed
Old Englishc. 450–1150hǣling
Middle Englishc. 1150–1500heelinge
Englishtodayhealing

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kéh₂ilos‘healthy, whole’reconstructed
Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*hailaz‘whole, healthy’reconstructed
Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*hailijaną‘to heal’reconstructed
Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*hailingōreconstructed
Old Englishc. 450–1150hǣling
Middle Englishc. 1150–1500heelinge
Englishtodayhealing

Formed from heal + -ing

Proto-Indo-European *kéh₂ilos ‘healthy, whole’

Proto-Germanic *hailijaną ‘to heal, make whole, save’

Proto-West Germanic *hailijan ‘to heal, cure’

Old English hǣlan ‘to heal, cure, save, greet, salute’

Middle English helen ‘to cure, heal’

English heal

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *kéh₂ilos ‘healthy, whole’

hallowed, 3 more

through Proto-Germanic *hailaz ‘whole, healthy’

whole, holy, health, hail, hale, heil, hallow, 4 more

Today it means

noun The process where the cells in the body regenerate and repair themselves.

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

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *kéh₂ilos / healing

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