Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “ern” come from?

Ern is an English word derived from Old English irnan, which comes from Proto-Germanic rinnaną, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₃er-.

ern (English): Alternative spelling of erne; To run; flow; To ...

Definitions

  1. Alternative spelling of erne; To run; flow; To ...

Ancestry of “ern”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishernen—
2Old EnglishirnanAlternative form of rinnan; to run
3Old Englishrinnanto run
4Proto-West Germanic*rinnan—
5Proto-Germanicrinnanąto run, to rush; to flow
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃ér-—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃ér- →