Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “outermost” come from?

Outermost derives from English outer, which combines English out with the comparative suffix -er, ultimately from Latin -arius, meaning "of or pertaining to," via Old French -er and Latin -are.

outermost (English): superlative form of outer: most outer; That which...

Definitions

  1. superlative form of outer: most outer; That which...

Ancestry of “outermost”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishūtemest—
2Old Englishūteoutside; without; out; outdoors, outside
3Old Norseútioutside
4Proto-Germanicūtaioutside, without
5Proto-Germanicūtout, outward
6Proto-Indo-Europeanúdout, outward
Every word from Proto-Indo-European úd →