Down
/daʊn/noun
A word indicating a direction opposite to up.
Did you know?In Old English, 'dūn' referred not just to a direction but also to hills and mountains, tying it to ancient burial mounds and the afterlife.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰew-
“to flow or run, indicating downward motion.”
Old English
Old English
dūn
“a hill or mound, often associated with burial sites.”
Middle English
Middle English
doun
“downward, a direction opposite to up.”
Modern English
English
down
“indicating a lower position or direction.”