Proto-Indo-European

[ proh-toh-in-doh-yoor-uh-pee-uhn ]

noun

1. the unattested prehistoric parent language of the Indo-European languages; Indo-European.

adjective

1. of or relating to Proto-Indo-European.

Proto-Indo-European

noun

1. the prehistoric unrecorded language that was the ancestor of all Indo-European languages

Example Sentences

“Nectere,” in turn, grew from the ancient Proto-Indo-European language root *ned — which also means “to bind.”

From Seattle Times

She traces the roots of her favorite word in English, marshes, to the Old English mor and the Proto-Indo-European mer, “meaning ‘to hurt,’ ‘to die’ or even ‘sea.’

From New York Times

The root word is the proto-Indo-European bhel.

From The Guardian

The question is designed for teamwork and deductive leaps, not for quick familiarity with proto-Indo-European etymologies.

From The Guardian

The words “wisdom” and “historian” have a common ancestor, a proto-Indo-European word meaning to see things clearly.

From New York Times