kiss

English

/kɪs/

verb
Definitions
  • (transitive) To touch with the lips or press the lips against, usually to show love or affection or passion, or as part of a greeting.
  • (ambitransitive) To (cause to) touch lightly or slightly; to come into contact.
  • (intransitive) Of two or more people, to touch each other's lips together, usually to express love or affection or passion.
  • (transitive) To treat with fondness.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English kissen inherited from Old English cyssan (kiss) inherited from Proto-Germanic *kussijaną (kiss) derived from Proto-Indo-European *ku.

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*ku

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms