Where does “either” come from?

Either derives from Middle English either, from Old English ǣġþer, a shortened form of Old English ǣġhwæþer meaning "each of two."

either (English): Any one; Each of two; both; One or other of two...

Definitions

  1. Any one; Each of two; both; One or other of two...

Ancestry of “either”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglisheitherBoth of two; Each of two; Either of two
2Old Englishǣġþer
3Old Englishǣġhwæþer
4Proto-Germanicaiwalways, for ever

Words derived from “either

Every word from Proto-Germanic aiwEvery word from Old English ǣġhwæþerEvery word from Old English ǣġþer