Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “each” come from?

Each comes from Middle English eche, from Old English eċe, from Proto-Germanic akiz, from Latin apium, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ- meaning to drive or move.

each (English): All; every; For one; apiece; per; Every one;...

Definitions

  1. All; every; For one; apiece; per; Every one;...

Ancestry of “each”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishecheeach; Alternative form of ache
2Old Englisheċe—
3Proto-West Germanic*aki—
4Proto-Germanicakizache, pain
5Armenianաքիսweasel, least weasel, "Mustela nivalis"
6Old Armenianաքիսweasel, least weasel, "Mustela nivalis"

Words derived from “each”

  • eachwhere
  • ea.
  • ea
Every word from Old Armenian աքիս →