Where does “again” come from?

Again comes from Old English onġeġn, a word of uncertain ultimate origin whose original sense is not documented.

again (English): Another time; once more; Over and above a factor...

Definitions

  1. Another time; once more; Over and above a factor...

Ancestry of “again”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishagaynagain
2Old Englishonġēanopposite
3Old Englishon-forming verbs and adjectives from participles and...
4Old Englishand-against, opposing; in return, back; facing,...
5Proto-West Germanicanda-against, opposing; in return, back; facing,...
6Proto-Germanicanda-against, opposing; un-, de-
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éntiopposite; near; in front
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éntsforehead; front
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ent-face; forehead; front
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂en-on, onto

Words derived from “again”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂en- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂ent- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂énts →