Where does “anywhence” come from?
anywhence (English) comes from English any, from Middle English any, from Old English ǣniġ, from Proto-West Germanic *ainag — only, sole.
anywhence (English): From anywhere
Ancestry of “anywhence”, step by step
anywhence 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 whence
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | whence | From where; from which place or source; "The work... |
| 2 | Middle English | whennes | whence |
| 3 | Old English | hwanon | where from; whence |