Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “although” come from?

Although derives from Middle English althagh, Old English eall, Proto-West Germanic all, Proto-Germanic allaz, and ultimately Proto-Indo-European h₂el-, a root expressing completeness or totality.

although (English): Though, even though, in spite of or despite the...

Definitions

  1. Though, even though, in spite of or despite the...

Ancestry of “although”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishalthagh—
2Old Englisheallall; whole, entire; everything
3Proto-West Germanicallall
4Proto-Germanicallazall
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂él-—

Words derived from “although”

  • altho
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂él- →