Old English: *scēaru* (meaning "a piece cut off, a share")
Proto-Germanic: *skērō* (meaning "to cut, to shear")
Indo-European: *sker-/* (meaning "to cut, to divide")
Derivation:
The word "share" originated from the concept of "cutting" or "dividing" something into portions. The Old English word *scēaru* represented a piece cut off, which then evolved to signify a portion or share of something. This meaning is still reflected in the modern usage of "share" to denote a part or portion of something that is distributed among multiple people or entities.
Other Related Words:
* Shear: This word, also derived from the Proto-Germanic *skērō*, retains the original meaning of "to cut" and is still used in contexts like shearing sheep's wool.
* Scare: This word, while sounding similar, has a different origin and is related to the word "shriek."
Therefore, the word "share" has a deep-rooted history connected to the concept of cutting and dividing, which ultimately gave rise to its modern meaning of a portion or part of something that is distributed among multiple individuals.