Where does “further” come from?

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

further (English): To help forward; to assist; To encourage growth;...

Definitions

  1. To help forward; to assist; To encourage growth;...

Ancestry of “further”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishfurther
2Old Englishfurþorfurther
3Proto-West Germanicfurþer
4Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “further

Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós