English
quickness
Quickness comes from Middle English quyknesse ‘Life’, from quyk ‘living, alive, active’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷeyh₃- ‘to live’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʷeyh₃-‘to live’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʷih₃wós‘alive, living’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*kwikwaz‘alive’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*kwiku‘alive’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150cwic‘alive’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500quykas quik‘living, alive, active’
- Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500quyknesseas quiknes‘Life’
- Englishtodayquickness
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʷeyh₃-‘to live’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʷih₃wós‘alive, living’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*kwikwaz‘alive’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*kwiku‘alive’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150cwic‘alive’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500quykas quik‘living, alive, active’
- Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500quyknesseas quiknes‘Life’
- Englishtodayquickness
Formed from quick + -ness
Proto-Indo-European *gʷeyh₃- ‘to live’
…
Proto-Germanic *kwikwaz ‘alive’
Proto-West Germanic *kwiku ‘alive’
Old English cwic ‘alive’
Middle English quik ‘living’
English quick
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *gʷeyh₃- ‘to live’
biology, vitamin, viable, kidney, revive, hygiene, vitality, zodiac, anaerobic, wyvern, biogenesis, 59 more
through Proto-Indo-European *gʷih₃wós ‘alive, living’
vital, vivid, vive, vivacious, convivial, vivacity, 32 more
through Proto-Germanic *kwikwaz ‘alive’
through Old English cwic ‘alive’
Today it means
noun rapidity of movement or activity; agility or dexterity
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *gʷeyh₃- / quickness