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sunder (v.)

Middle English sonderen, "separate (two or more things) from each other," from Old English sundrian, syndrian "to divide, disunite in any manner." This is from the adjective and adverb sundor "separately, apart," which is from Proto-Germanic *sunder (source also of Old Norse sundr, Old Frisian sunder, Old High German suntar "aside, apart;" German sondern "to separate").

This is from PIE root *sen(e)- "apart, separated" (source also of Sanskrit sanutar "away, aside," Avestan hanare "without," Greek ater "without," Latin sine "without," Old Church Slavonic svene "without," Old Irish sain "different").

The adjective survived in Middle English only in compounds, and is preserved in asunder. Related: Sundered; sundering; sunderment.

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Trends of sunder

updated on October 10, 2023

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