Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “pwn” come from?

pwn (English) comes from English own, from Middle English aȝen, from Old English āgen, from Proto-West Germanic aigan, from Proto-Germanic *aiganą, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eh₂óyḱe, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eyḱ- — to possess, to own.

pwn (English): To own, to defeat or dominate; Triumph, victory....

Definitions

  1. To own, to defeat or dominate; Triumph, victory....

Ancestry of “pwn”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishownBelonging to; possessed; proper to. Often marks a...
2Middle EnglishaȝenAlternative form of awen
3Old Englishāgenpeculiar; own, proper, peculiar
4Proto-West Germanicaiganto possess, to own, to have; own
5Proto-Germanic*aiganą—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eh₂óyḱeto possess, to own
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eyḱ-to possess, to own

Words derived from “pwn”

  • pwnage
  • wtfpwn
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eyḱ- →