Where does “anywise” come from?

Anywise comes from Middle English anywise, from Old English ǣnwīs, combining ǣniġ (any) from Proto-Germanic ainagaz and wīs (way, manner) from Proto-Indo-European dérkstis.

anywise (English): In any case

Definitions

  1. In any case

Ancestry of “anywise”, step by step

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