Where does “seldom” come from?
Seldom derives from Middle English seldom and selden, from Old English seldan, from Proto-Germanic seldanaz, of uncertain origin.
seldom (English): Infrequently, rarely; Rare; infrequent
Definitions
- Infrequently, rarely; Rare; infrequent
Ancestry of “seldom”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | seldom | Alternative form of selden; uncommon |
| 2 | Old English | seldan | seldom, rarely |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | seldana | — |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | seldanē | seldom; rarely |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | seldanaz | rare, strange |
Words derived from “seldom”