Where does “nowhile” come from?
nowhile (English) comes from English Nō, from Middle English no, from Old English nā, from Old English ne, from Old English ealles, from Old English -es, from Proto-Germanic -as, from Proto-Indo-European -ēs — Creates action nouns or result nouns from verbs;...
nowhile (English): no time; not for any length of time
Definitions
- no time; not for any length of time
Ancestry of “nowhile”, step by step
nowhile traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Nō
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Nō | — |
| 2 | Middle English | no | no |
| 3 | Old English | nā | no |
| 4 | Old English | ne | not; or, and not; "ne... ne..." is used to mean "... |
| 5 | Old English | ealles | completely, wholly, entirely; totally,... |
| 6 | Old English | -es | possessive marker, indicating that an object... |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | -as | used in formation of adverbs |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -ēs | Primarily forms adjectival bahuvrīhi compounds |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | -ess | — |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | -os | Creates action nouns or result nouns from verbs;... |
via English while
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | while | An uncertain duration of time, a period of time;... |
| 2 | Middle English | whyle | while |
| 3 | Old English | hwīl | time; while; while; time, while |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | hwīlu | period of rest, pause; time, period of time,... |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | hwīlō | time, period of time, while; period of rest,... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷyeh₁- | to rest; rest, peace |