Where does “much” come from?

Much comes from Middle English muche, from Old English miċel and micel, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European meǵa- meaning great or large.

much (English): A large amount of; Used to indicate, demonstrate...

Definitions

  1. A large amount of; Used to indicate, demonstrate...

Ancestry of “much”, step by step

much traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English mutch

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmutchA nightcap; A linen or muslin hat, especially one...
2Middle Dutchmutsecap, nightcap; mutch
3Latinmodiusmodius, a unit of dry measure of about a peck or...
4Latinmodusmeasure
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmēd-to measure
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmed-to measure; to give advice; healing

via Middle English muche

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishmuchemuch
2Middle Englishmuchelmuch
3Old Englishmiċelgreat, large, much
4Proto-West Germanicmikilbig, large
5Proto-Germanicmikilazgreat, large; much, many
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmeǵa-—

Words derived from “much”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European med- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European mēd- →Every word from Latin modus →