Where does “halloween” come from?
halloween (English) comes from English Allhalloweven, from English Even, from Middle English even, from Old English efn, from Proto-West Germanic ebn, from Proto-Germanic ebnaz, from Proto-Indo-European h₁émnos — equal, straight; flat, level, even.
halloween (English): The eve of All Hallows' Day; October 31st; celebrated (mostly in English-speaking countries) by children going door-to-door in costume and soliciting candy with menaces
Definitions
- The eve of All Hallows' Day; October 31st; celebrated (mostly in English-speaking countries) by children going door-to-door in costume and soliciting candy with menaces
Ancestry of “halloween”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Allhalloweven | — |
| 2 | English | Even | An ethnic Even: a member of an indigenous people... |
| 3 | Middle English | even | smoothly, evenly |
| 4 | Old English | efn | equal, level, even |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | ebn | even, level |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | ebnaz | even, level |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁émnos | equal, straight; flat, level, even |