Where does “Anytown” come from?

Anytown (English) comes from English town, from Middle English toun, from Middle English ende, from Old English ende, from Proto-Germanic andi, from Proto-Indo-European h₂énti, from Proto-Indo-European h₂énts, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ent- — on, onto.

Anytown (English): Any non-specific, non-notable town in the USA

Definitions

  1. Any non-specific, non-notable town in the USA

Ancestry of “Anytown”, step by step

Anytown traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English town

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtownA settlement; an area with residential districts,...
2Middle Englishtountown
3Middle EnglishendeThe end or finishing of a thing; the terminal...
4Old Englishendeend, limit, border, corner
5Proto-Germanicandiin addition, furthermore, and
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éntiopposite; near; in front
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éntsforehead; front
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ent-face; forehead; front
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂en-on, onto

via English any

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishanyTo even the slightest extent, at all; At least...
2Middle Englishany
3Old Englishǣniġany
4Proto-West Germanic*ainagonly, sole
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂en-