Where does “instead” come from?

instead (English) comes from Middle English ine, from Old English inn, from Old English inne, from Proto-Germanic innai, from Proto-Germanic in, from Proto-Indo-European én — in.

instead (English): In the place of something (usually mentioned earlier); as a substitute or alternative

Definitions

  1. In the place of something (usually mentioned earlier); as a substitute or alternative

Ancestry of “instead”, step by step

instead traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Middle English ine

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishineAlternative form of in; Alternative form of hine;...
2Old Englishinnin; inn
3Old Englishinneinside, in; indoors
4Proto-Germanicinnaiwithin, inside
5Proto-Germanicinin; into
6Proto-Indo-Europeanénin

via Middle English stede

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishstedeplace, location; place, stead; city; stead
2Old Englishstedeplace
3Proto-West Germanicstadiplace
4Proto-Germanicstadizplace, location
5Proto-Indo-Europeanstéh₂tisstanding, position
6Proto-Indo-European*steh₂-—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European én →Every word from Proto-Germanic in →Every word from Proto-Germanic innai →