Where does “anyways” come from?
Anyways derives from English any combined with English away, tracing through Old English ǣniġ and Proto-Germanic wēgō to Proto-Indo-European roots weǵʰ- and ǵʰengʰ- meaning to go or move.
anyways (English): In any way; Anyway, anyhow, in any case
Definitions
- In any way; Anyway, anyhow, in any case
Ancestry of “anyways”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | Way | — |
| 2 | Middle English | way | — |
| 3 | Old English | weġ | way; path; way, road, path |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | weg | way, road |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | wēgaz | wave; sea |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | weǵʰ- | to bring; to transport |