Where does “afterwhile” come from?
afterwhile (English) comes from English while, from English worthwhile, from English worth, from Middle English worth, from Old English weorþ, from Proto-Germanic werþaz, from Proto-Indo-European wert-, from Proto-Indo-European wer- — to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel.
afterwhile (English): afterwards
Ancestry of “afterwhile”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | while | An uncertain duration of time, a period of time;... |
| 2 | English | worthwhile | Good and important enough to spend time, effort,... |
| 3 | English | worth | Having a value of; proper to be exchanged for;... |
| 4 | Middle English | worth | to become |
| 5 | Old English | weorþ | worth, deserving; honoured, esteemed; worth,... |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | werþaz | worthy, valuable |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | wert- | to turn, to rotate |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | wer- | to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel |