Where does “lone” come from?
Lone comes from Middle English allone, from Old English ān meaning "one," from Proto-Germanic ainaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂el- meaning "to grow" or "nourish."
lone (English): Solitary; having no companion; Isolated or...
Definitions
- Solitary; having no companion; Isolated or...
Ancestry of “lone”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | alone | By oneself, solitary; Apart from, or exclusive... |
| 2 | Middle English | allone | alone |
| 3 | Middle English | on | on, in; on; Alternative form of oon |
| 4 | Old English | on | on, in, at, among; from |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | ana | on |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | *an | — |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | ana | on, at; on, onto; ana |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂en- | on, onto |