Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “thing” come from?

Thing derives from Middle English thing, Old English þing, Proto-Germanic þingą, and Proto-Indo-European tenkó-, ultimately from the root tenk-.

thing (English): That which is considered to exist as a separate...

Definitions

  1. That which is considered to exist as a separate...

Ancestry of “thing”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishthing—
2Old Englishþingevent, meeting, court; matter, concern; thing,...
3Proto-West Germanicþingcourt session, lawsuit; affair, matter; thing,...
4Proto-Germanicþingąappointed time; date; appointment; meeting;...
5Proto-Indo-Europeantenkó-—
6Proto-Indo-Europeantenk-to be solid, firm; to be suitable; to succeed,...

Words derived from “thing”

  • everything
  • plaything
  • thang
  • thingy
  • thingness
  • thinghood
  • thingie
  • thingification
  • thinglike
  • nonthing
  • thingify
  • posteverything
  • antieverything
  • manthing
  • thingish
  • underthing
  • thingo
  • thinger
  • werething
  • thizz
  • thinglet
  • thingal
  • ting
Every word from Proto-Indo-European tenk- →