Where does “behalf” come from?
Behalf comes from Middle English bihalve, from Old English bī healfe, combining Old English bī (from Proto-Germanic bi-, from Proto-Indo-European h₁epi and ki-) with healfe (side).
behalf (English): The interest, benefit, or wellbeing of someone or...
Definitions
- The interest, benefit, or wellbeing of someone or...
Ancestry of “behalf”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | bihalve | nearby |
| 2 | Old English | bī healfe | by side |
| 3 | Old English | bī | lullaby!; near, by; by, near, around |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | bī | by, at; near, around |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | bi | by, at; near, around |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂m̥bʰi | around, on either side of, about; in exchange... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂n̥tbʰi | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂énts | forehead; front |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ent- | face; forehead; front |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂en- | on, onto |