Where does “this've” come from?
this've (English) comes from English this, from Middle English þis, from Old English þis, from Proto-Germanic þat, from Proto-Indo-European tód, from Proto-Indo-European to-, from Proto-Indo-European só — this; that.
Ancestry of “this've”, step by step
this've traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English this
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | this | The (thing) here used in indicating something or someone nearby |
| 2 | Middle English | þis | this; Alternative form of þes |
| 3 | Old English | þis | nominative/accusative neuter singular of þēs |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | þat | nominative/accusative singular neuter of *sa |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | tód | demonstrative pronoun; that; it |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | to- | it; that; the, that |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | só | this; that |
via English ’ve
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | ’ve | in its sense marking the perfect or retrospective aspect |