Where does “Even” come from?

Even comes from Middle English even, from Old English efn, from Proto-Germanic ēbandaz, from Proto-Indo-European h₁epi meaning level or equal.

Even (English): Flat and level; Without great variation; Equal in...

Definitions

  1. Flat and level; Without great variation; Equal in...

Ancestry of “Even”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishevensmoothly, evenly
2Old Englishefnequal, level, even
3Proto-West Germanicebneven, level
4Proto-Germanicebnazeven, level
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁émnosequal, straight; flat, level, even

Words derived from “Even

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁émnos
Even — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer