Where does “Ben” come from?
Ben (Cebuano) comes from English Ben, from Middle English ben, from Old English binnan, from Old English bī-, from Old English bī, from Proto-West Germanic bī, from Proto-Germanic bi, from Proto-Indo-European h₂m̥bʰi — on, onto.
Ancestry of “Ben”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | Ben | A US$100 bill, which bears a portrait of Benjamin... |
| 2 | Middle English | ben | Alternative form of been |
| 3 | Old English | binnan | within |
| 4 | Old English | bī- | by, near, around; by- |
| 5 | Old English | bī | lullaby!; near, by; by, near, around |
| 6 | Proto-West Germanic | bī | by, at; near, around |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | bi | by, at; near, around |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂m̥bʰi | around, on either side of, about; in exchange... |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂n̥tbʰi | — |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂énts | forehead; front |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ent- | face; forehead; front |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂en- | on, onto |