Where does “erstwhile” come from?
Erstwhile derives from Old English hwīl and ǣresta, tracing through Proto-Germanic airist and ultimately to Proto-Indo-European roots kʷyeh₁-, -istHos, -tós, and -yoss meaning superlative degree.
erstwhile (English): Formerly; in the past; Former, previous;...
Definitions
- Formerly; in the past; Former, previous;...
Ancestry of “erstwhile”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | while | An uncertain duration of time, a period of time;... |
| 2 | English | worthwhile | Good and important enough to spend time, effort,... |
| 3 | English | worth | Having a value of; proper to be exchanged for;... |
| 4 | Middle English | worth | to become |
| 5 | Old English | weorþ | worth, deserving; honoured, esteemed; worth,... |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | werþaz | worthy, valuable |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | wert- | to turn, to rotate |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | wer- | to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel |