Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Time” come from?

Time (English) comes from Middle English tyme, from Old French thym, from Latin thymum, from Ancient Greek θύμον, from Ancient Greek θύω, from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂- — smoke; mist, haze.

Ancestry of “Time”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishtymethyme; time; A specific duration or period of...
2Old Frenchthym—
3Latinthymumthyme; accusative singular of thymus
4Ancient Greekθύμονthyme
5Ancient GreekθύωI offer in sacrifice, slay, burn, immolate; I...
6Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewh₂-smoke; mist, haze
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂- →