Where does “henceforth” come from?

Henceforth derives from English forth, itself from Old English forþ, which continues Proto-Germanic fedurþô, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European per- meaning "forward" or "through."

henceforth (English): From now on; from this time on

Definitions

  1. From now on; from this time on

Ancestry of “henceforth”, step by step

henceforth traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English hence

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishhencefrom here, from this place, away; from the living...
2Middle Englishhennes—
3Old Englishheonanfrom here, hence
4Old Englishhēhey
5Proto-West Germanic*hiʀ—
6Proto-Germanichīznominative plural masculine of *hiz; these, these...

via English forth

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishforthForward in time, place or degree; Out into view;...
2Middle Englishforth—
3Old Englishforþ"expresses the continuation of an action"; out,...
4Proto-Germanicfurþąforward
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥to-—
Every word from Proto-Germanic hīz →Every word from Proto-West Germanic *hiʀ →Every word from Old English hē →