Where does “eastern” come from?
Eastern comes from Middle English esterne, from Old English ēasterne, from Proto-Germanic austrōnijaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂ews-, meaning to shine or burn.
eastern (English): Of, facing, situated in, or related to the east;...
Definitions
- Of, facing, situated in, or related to the east;...
Ancestry of “eastern”, step by step
eastern traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English esterne
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | esterne | eastern |
| 2 | Old English | ēasterne | eastern |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | austrōnijaz | eastern |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ews-ro- | of the dawn or morning, matutinal; eastern;... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ews- | dawn; east; to draw water, scoop up |
via Middle English esturne
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | esturne | Alternative form of esterne |