Where does “might” come from?
Might comes from Middle English might, from Old English miht, ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European megʰ-, a root meaning to be able or have power.
might (English): Power, strength, force or influence held by a...
Definitions
- Power, strength, force or influence held by a...
Ancestry of “might”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old English | meahte | past subjunctive of maġan |
| 2 | Old English | maġan | — |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | magan | to be able, may |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | maganą | to be able, may |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | (me)mógʰe | to have power, to be able to |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | megʰ- | to be able |
Words derived from “might”