Where does “on” come from?

on (Central Franconian) comes from German und, from Middle High German unde, from Old High German unti, from Proto-Germanic andi, from Proto-Indo-European h₂énti, from Proto-Indo-European h₂énts, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ent-, from Proto-Indo-European h₂en- — on, onto.

on (Central Franconian): and

Definitions

  1. and

Ancestry of “on”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanundand; so?, now?, and?
2Middle High Germanunde—
3Old High Germanuntiand
4Proto-Germanicandiin addition, furthermore, and
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éntiopposite; near; in front
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éntsforehead; front
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ent-face; forehead; front
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂en-on, onto
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂en- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂ent- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂énts →