Where does “ofttimes” come from?
Ofttimes comes from Middle English oft times, combining oft (frequently) with times, the plural of time from Old English tīma, ultimately deriving from Latin thema and Ancient Greek thema meaning a set or established position.
ofttimes (English): often; frequently
Ancestry of “ofttimes”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | Times | — |
| 2 | English | times | plural of time; API pl; The circumstances of a... |
| 3 | English | time | The inevitable progression into the future with... |
| 4 | Middle English | time | Alternative form of tyme |
| 5 | Old French | thym | — |
| 6 | Latin | thymum | thyme; accusative singular of thymus |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | θύμον | thyme |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | θύω | I offer in sacrifice, slay, burn, immolate; I... |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰewh₂- | smoke; mist, haze |