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

  1. In any way; Anyway, anyhow, in any case

Ancestry of “anyways”, step by step

anyways traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Way

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishWayChristianity
2Middle Englishway—
3Old Englishweġway; path; way, road, path
4Proto-West Germanicwegway, road
5Proto-Germanicwēgazwave; sea
6Proto-Indo-Europeanweǵʰ-to bring; to transport

via English any

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