Where does “aught” come from?
Aught derives from Middle English ought, Old English ǣht, Old English ā, Proto-Indo-European h₂eyḱ-, Proto-Indo-European oḱtṓw, and Proto-Indo-European wekʷ-.
aught (English): anything whatsoever, any part; whit, the smallest...
Definitions
- anything whatsoever, any part; whit, the smallest...
Ancestry of “aught”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | aught | estimation, regard, reputation |
| 2 | Old English | ǣht | owndom; possessions, property, riches |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | aihtiz | possessions, property |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | *aiganą | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eh₂óyḱe | to possess, to own |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eyḱ- | to possess, to own |
Words derived from “aught”