Where does “oncoming” come from?

Oncoming derives from the English gerund suffix -ing attached to come, which comes from Old English combined with Proto-Indo-European gʷem- meaning to go or arrive.

oncoming (English): Approach, onset; approaching; coming closer;...

Definitions

  1. Approach, onset; approaching; coming closer;...

Ancestry of “oncoming”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishoncomeTo arrive; come to; come on; Advent, arrival,...
2Middle Englishoncomean attack
3Middle Englishancomen—
4Old Englishoncumen—
5Old Englishancumanto come, arrive; oncome
6Proto-Germanicanakwemanąto come to, come at, arrive
Every word from Proto-Germanic anakwemaną →Every word from Old English ancuman →Every word from Old English oncumen →