Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “ellen” come from?

ellen (English) comes from Middle English elne, from Old English ellen, from Proto-West Germanic alljan, from Proto-Germanic aljaną, from Proto-Indo-European h₁elh₂- — to drive, move, go.

ellen (English): Zeal; Strength; courage; Strength vouchsafed;...

Definitions

  1. Zeal; Strength; courage; Strength vouchsafed;...

Ancestry of “ellen”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishelneA ell; power, strength, might
2Old Englishellenstrength, courage, bravery; elder tree; elder...
3Proto-West Germanicalljanzeal
4Proto-Germanicaljanązeal, eagerness; strength, courage; to cause to...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁elh₂-to drive, move, go
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁elh₂- →