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Read

3 stages from Proto-Germanic to English.

Today it means to look at and understand written words

Where does the word "read" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic rēdaną, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).

rēdaną→rǣdan→read

Proto-Germanic · ancient

meant to advise or interpret

Old English · 700s-1000s

"to advise, read"

meant to advise, interpret or solve a riddle before it meant reading letters; 'Æthelred the Unready' was 'ill-advised'

English · 1500s

'riddle' comes from the same verb

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Read the full story

Read’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: rēdaną meant “to advise.” Meant to advise or interpret. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as rǣdan. Meant to advise, interpret or solve a riddle before it meant reading letters; 'Æthelred the Unready' was 'ill-advised'. It reached English by 1500s as read. 'riddle' comes from the same verb. Today, read means to look at and understand written words.