Where does “anyhow” come from?

Anyhow derives from Middle English anihow, combining any with how, which comes from Old English hū, ultimately tracing through Proto-Germanic hanhaz and Frankish hauwan to Proto-Indo-European roots.

anyhow (English): In any way or manner whatever; In any case. Used...

Definitions

  1. In any way or manner whatever; In any case. Used...

Ancestry of “anyhow”, step by step

anyhow traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English how

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishhowTo what degree; In what manner; In what state
2Middle Englishhowhow
3Old Englishhūhow
4Proto-Germanichwōhow, with what, by what means; instrumental of...
5Proto-Indo-European*kʷís—

via English any

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishanyTo even the slightest extent, at all; At least...
2Middle Englishany—
3Old Englishǣniġany
4Proto-West Germanic*ainagonly, sole

Words derived from “anyhow”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European *kʷís →