Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “since” come from?

Since derives from Middle English syns, synnes, and sithens, from Old English siþþan, meaning "after," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European sent- and h₁es-.

since (English): From a specified time in the past; From:...

Definitions

  1. From a specified time in the past; From:...

Ancestry of “since”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishsyns—
2Middle Englishsithens—
3Middle EnglishsithenFrom or since the time that; since then, after...
4Old Englishsiþþanafterwards, subsequently; since; ago, since
5Old Englishsīþjourney, movement, trip, point in time, occasion;...
6Proto-West Germanicsinþjourney, way, path; time, occasion
7Proto-Germanicsinþazjourney, way, path; time , instance
8Proto-Indo-Europeansent-to head for, to go, to travel; to feel
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁es-to be
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁es- →