Where does “ax” come from?
Ax comes from Old English acsian, a verb of unknown ultimate origin whose meaning development remains unattested.
ax (English): Alternative form of axe; Alternative form of ask
Definitions
- Alternative form of axe; Alternative form of ask
Ancestry of “ax”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | axen | To ask, enquire or question; To look for... |
| 2 | Old English | ācsian | — |
| 3 | Old English | āscian | to ask |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | aiskōn | to claim; to demand, ask for |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | -ōn | Creates denominative verbs from nouns; Creates... |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | -ōną | Creates denominative verbs from nouns; Creates... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -eh₂yéti | Creates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -yéti | Creates intransitive, often deponent,... |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | yé- | — |
| 10 | Chichewa | iye | he, she |