Where does “for” come from?
For comes from Middle English for, from Old English for, from Proto-Germanic fura, from Proto-Indo-European per-, a root of uncertain original meaning.
for (English): Because, as, since; Towards; in the direction of;...
Definitions
- Because, as, since; Towards; in the direction of;...
Ancestry of “for”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | for | for |
| 2 | Old English | fōr | journey; going, course, journey |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | furi | for; before; forward |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | furi | for, before; before, forward |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | preh₂- | before, in front |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |