Where does “elsewhen” come from?
elsewhen (English) comes from English else, from Middle English ells, from Old English elles, from Proto-West Germanic alljas, from Proto-Germanic aljas, from Proto-Indo-European h₂élyos, from Proto-Indo-European h₂él- — to grow, nourish.
elsewhen (English): At some other time or times; somewhen else
Definitions
- At some other time or times; somewhen else
Ancestry of “elsewhen”, step by step
elsewhen traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English else
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | else | Other; in addition to previously mentioned items;... |
| 2 | Middle English | ells | — |
| 3 | Old English | elles | other, else; other, otherwise, different |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | alljas | else, otherwise, besides |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | aljas | of another, of something else |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂élyos | other, another |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂él- | to grow, nourish |
via English when
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | when | At what time? At which time? Upon which occasion... |
| 2 | Middle English | when | Alternative form of whenne; Alternative form of... |
| 3 | Middle English | whan | whom; Alternative form of whenne; Alternative... |
| 4 | Old English | hwōn | little, few, a little, trifle, somewhat, a little... |