Where does “forthwith” come from?
Forthwith comes from Middle English forth-with, combining forth from Old English forþ and with, ultimately deriving from Proto-Indo-European per- meaning to go forward or through.
forthwith (English): Without delay; immediately
Definitions
- Without delay; immediately
Ancestry of “forthwith”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | forth-with | at once, immediately; at the same time, already;... |
| 2 | English | forth | Forward in time, place or degree; Out into view;... |
| 3 | Middle English | forth | — |
| 4 | Old English | forþ | "expresses the continuation of an action"; out,... |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | furþą | forward |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥to- | — |