Where does “anywhen” come from?
anywhen (English) comes from English any, from Middle English any, from Old English ǣniġ, from Proto-West Germanic *ainag — only, sole.
anywhen (English): At any point in time
Definitions
- At any point in time
Ancestry of “anywhen”, step by step
anywhen traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English any
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | any | To even the slightest extent, at all; At least... |
| 2 | Middle English | any | — |
| 3 | Old English | ǣniġ | any |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | *ainag | only, sole |
via English when
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | when | At what time? At which time? Upon which occasion... |
| 2 | Middle English | when | Alternative form of whenne; Alternative form of... |
| 3 | Middle English | whan | whom; Alternative form of whenne; Alternative... |
| 4 | Old English | hwōn | little, few, a little, trifle, somewhat, a little... |