Where does “é” come from?

é (Bourguignon) comes from Old French el, from Latin alius, from Proto-Italic aljos, from Proto-Indo-European h₂élyos, from Proto-Indo-European h₂él- — to grow, nourish.

é (Bourguignon): in the, equivalent of au

Definitions

  1. in the, equivalent of au

Ancestry of “é”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchelsomething else
2Latinaliusother, another, any other; else; different
3Proto-Italicaljosanother
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂élyosother, another
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂él-to grow, nourish
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂él- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂élyos →Every word from Proto-Italic aljos →