Middle English word fre comes from Proto-Indo-European *preyH-, Proto-Indo-European *prāy-, Proto-Indo-European *proHwo-, Proto-Germanic *feraną, Proto-Indo-European - -ós, Proto-Indo-European *prey, and later Proto-Germanic *frijô (Loved one; spouse; husband.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *preyH- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *prāy- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *proHwo- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *feraną | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | |
| - -ós | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *prey | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *frijô | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Loved one; spouse; husband. |
| *frijō | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Loved one; spouse; wife. |
| *frawjô | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Lord. |
| *prē- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *priHós | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | Dear, beloved. Happy, free. |
| *frijaz | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Free. |
| freo | Old English (ang) | (poetic) noble, glad. Free, at liberty; exempt. |
| frēo | Old English (ang) | |
| free | Middle English (enm) |