Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “higher” come from?

Higher comes from Middle English hiȝere, from Old English hēah meaning "tall or lofty," derived through Proto-West Germanic hugi and Proto-Germanic hauhaz from Proto-Indo-European kewk-.

higher (English): comparative form of high: more high; A national...

Definitions

  1. comparative form of high: more high; A national...

Ancestry of “higher”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishhighElevated, extending above a base or average...
2Middle Englishheighhigh; Alternative form of hey; Alternative form...
3Old Englishhēahhigh, tall, lofty, high-class, exalted, sublime,...
4Old Englishhāmhome; village, community; village, hamlet, manor,...
5Proto-West Germanichaimhome
6Proto-Germanichaimazhome; house; village
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱóymosof the home, belonging to the family; village,...
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱey-to be lying down; to settle
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱey- →