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

  1. anything whatsoever, any part; whit, the smallest...

Ancestry of “aught”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishaughtestimation, regard, reputation
2Old Englishǣhtowndom; possessions, property, riches
3Proto-Germanicaihtizpossessions, property
4Proto-Germanic*aiganą—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eh₂óyḱeto possess, to own
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eyḱ-to possess, to own
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eyḱ- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eh₂óyḱe →Every word from Proto-Germanic *aiganą →