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Etymology data from Wiktionary via Wiktextract (CC BY-SA 4.0). Chinese character data from the 說文解字, the Taiwan MOE 國語辭典簡編本 (CC BY-ND 3.0 TW) and HSK/TOCFL lists.

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English

down

/ˈdaʊ̯n/
From a higher position to a lower one; downwards.

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    • derived
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    • meaning component
    • sound component
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    Origin

    Etymology 1

    From Middle English doun, doune (“down”), from Old English dūne (“down”), aphetic form of adūne (“down, downward”), from earlier ofdūne (“down”, literally “off the hill”), from of (“of, off of”) + dūn (“hill, mount, dune, down”). More at Etymology 2 below. For the development from directional phrases to prepositions, compare Old Frisian dene (“down”, adverb, literally “(to the) floor”), Middle Low German dāle (“down, downwards”, literally “(in/to the) dale/valley”), whence German Low German dal (“down”). Compare also Saterland Frisian deel (“down”, literally “to/into the dale”), West Frisian del (“down”). Cognate with Scots doon (“down”).

    Etymology 2

    From Middle English doune, from Old English dūn, from Proto-West Germanic *dūn (“sandhill, dune”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Proto-Germanic *dūnaz, *dūnǭ (“pile, heap”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewh₂- (“smoke, haze, dust”).

    Alternatively, perhaps borrowed from Proto-Celtic *dūnom (“hill; hillfort”) (compare Welsh din (“city, fort, stronghold”), Irish dún (“hill, fort”)), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewh₂- (“to finish, come full circle”).

    Cognate with West Frisian dún (“dune, sandhill”), Dutch duin (“dune, sandhill”), German Düne (“dune”). More at town; akin to dune. Doublet of Down.

    Etymology 3

    From Middle English doun, from Old Norse dúnn, from Proto-Germanic *dūnaz (“down”), which is related to *dauniz (“(pleasant) smell”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰowh₂-nis, from the root *dʰewh₂-.

    Cognate with Saterland Frisian Duune (“fluff, down”), German Daune (“down”) and Danish dun (“down”).

    From Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

    Lineage

    • inheritedMiddle Englishdoun
      • borrowedOld Norsedúnn “down, down feather”
        • inheritedProto-Germanic*dūnaz “down”
          • derivedProto-Indo-European*dʰowh₂-nis
            • derivedProto-Indo-Europeanthe
    • inheritedMiddle Englishdoune
      • inheritedOld Englishdūn “hill”
        • inheritedProto-West Germanic*dūnā “hill; sand dune”
          • derivedProto-Celtic*dūnom “stronghold, rampart”
            • derived (possibly)Proto-Indo-European*duh₂-nós “lasting, durable”
              • partProto-Indo-European*dewh₂- “to tie to, secure”
              • partProto-Indo-European*-nós
            • derivedProto-Indo-European*dʰuHnom “enclosure”

    Related: English Down (doublet), Scots doon, Welsh din, Irish dún, West Frisian dún, Dutch duin, German Düne, Saterland Frisian Duune, German Daune, Danish dun

    Meanings

    adv
    1. From a higher position to a lower one; downwards.
    2. To or towards what is considered the bottom of something, irrespective of whether this is presently physically lower.
    3. At a lower or further place or position along a set path.
    4. To the south (as south is at the bottom of typical maps).
    5. Away from the city (regardless of direction).
    6. At or towards any place that is visualised as 'down' by virtue of local features or local convention, or arbitrarily, irrespective of direction or elevation change.
    prep
    1. From the higher end to the lower of.
    2. From north to south of.
    3. Towards the mouth of (a river); in the direction of flow of.
    4. From one end to another of (in any direction); along.
    5. At (a given place that is seen as removed from one's present location or other point of reference).
    6. To (a given place that is seen as removed from one's present location or other point of reference).
    adj
    1. Facing downwards.
    2. At a lower level than before.
    3. Sad, unhappy, depressed, feeling low.
    4. Sick or ill.
    5. Wounded and unable to move normally, or killed.
    6. Stranded in a recumbent position; unable to stand.
    verb
    1. To knock (someone or something) down; to cause to come down; to fell.
    2. Specifically, to cause (something in the air) to fall to the ground; to bring down (with a missile etc.).
    3. To lower; to put (something) down.
    4. To defeat; to overpower.
    5. To disparage; to put down.
    6. To go or come down; to descend.

    Sources

    • Wiktionary (via Wiktextract / kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0
    • Wiktionary: down