Where does “old” come from?
Old derives from Middle English old, from Old English eald, which traces to Proto-Indo-European h₂el- and al-, roots of uncertain meaning related to growth or nourishment.
old (English): Of an object, concept, relationship, etc., having...
Definitions
- Of an object, concept, relationship, etc., having...
Ancestry of “old”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | ald | — |
| 2 | Old English | eald | old; ancient; original |
| 3 | Old English | feld | field |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | felþu | field |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | felþuz | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | pelh₂- | to approach |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | pel- | to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold |