Where does “oftener” come from?
Oftener comes from English often, which derives from Middle English often and ofte, Old English oft, and Proto-Germanic ufta, all meaning frequently or repeatedly.
oftener (English): comparative form of often: more often
Definitions
- comparative form of often: more often
Ancestry of “oftener”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | often | Frequently, many times; Frequent |
| 2 | Middle English | often | — |
| 3 | Middle English | ofte | oft, :often |
| 4 | Old English | oft | often |
| 5 | Old High German | oftu | — |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | uftō | oft; often |