Where does “farther” come from?

Further derives from Middle English further, Old English furþor, Proto-West Germanic furþer, and Proto-Indo-European per-, meaning to go forward or across.

farther (English): Alternative form of further

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of further

Ancestry of “farther”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfurtherTo help forward; to assist; To encourage growth;...
2Middle Englishfurther—
3Old Englishfurþorfurther
4Proto-West Germanicfurþer—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →Every word from Proto-Indo-European per- →Every word from Proto-West Germanic furþer →