Mar
/mɑːr/noun
To spoil or damage something.
Did you know?The word 'mar' is linked to the Old English 'mearcian', meaning 'to mark', hinting at a connection between damage and the act of leaving a mark, perhaps even a curse!
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mr̥g-
“to die or decay, suggesting a connection with destruction.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
μάρτυς (mártus)
“witness, originally referring to someone who bears witness to death.”
Old English
Old English
mearcian
“to mark, indicating the act of leaving a trace or blemish.”
Middle English
Middle English
maren
“to damage or spoil, reflecting the ongoing theme of destruction.”
Modern English
English
mar
“to spoil or damage, a direct descendant of its historical roots.”