Where does “already” come from?
Already comes from Middle English alredy, meaning "completely prepared" or "entirely ready."
already (English): Prior to some specified time, either past,...
Definitions
- Prior to some specified time, either past,...
Ancestry of “already”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | alredy | already; in advance |
| 2 | Middle English | redy | ready |
| 3 | Middle English | irēd | — |
| 4 | Old English | rǣde | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | garaidijaz | Alternative form of *garaidaz; arranged, ready |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | raidijaz | Alternative form of *raidaz |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | raidaz | ready, arranged, prepared |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂reh₁dʰ- | to care |