English
hungry
Hungry comes from Old English hungriġ, from Proto-Germanic *hungrugaz, from *hungruz ‘hunger’, from Proto-Indo-European *kenk- ‘to feel hunger’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kenk-‘to feel hunger’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*hungruz‘hunger’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*hungrugaz‘hungry’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*hungrug‘hungry’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150hungriġ‘hungry’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500hungry‘hungry’
- Englishearliest quotation 1599same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kenk-‘to feel hunger’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*hungruz‘hunger’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*hungrugaz‘hungry’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*hungrug‘hungry’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150hungriġ‘hungry’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500hungry‘hungry’
- Englishearliest quotation 1599same form
Earliest quotation: 1599, The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar: “Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look”.
Formed from hunger + -y
Proto-Indo-European *kenk- ‘to burn, smart, desire, hunger, thirst’
Proto-Germanic *hungruz
Proto-West Germanic *hungr
Old English hungor ‘hunger, desire’
Middle English hunger ‘hungriness’
English hunger
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *kenk- ‘to feel hunger’
through Proto-Germanic *hungruz ‘hunger’
Today it means
adj Affected by hunger; having the physical need for food.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *kenk- / hungry