Where does “toforetime” come from?

toforetime (English) comes from English tofore, from Middle English tofore, from Middle English to-, from Middle English to, from Middle English tone, from Latin tonus, from Ancient Greek τόνος, from Proto-Hellenic tónos — to stretch, to extend.

toforetime (English): Previously, beforehand

Definitions

  1. Previously, beforehand

Ancestry of “toforetime”, step by step

toforetime traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English tofore

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtoforeBefore
2Middle EnglishtoforeIn front, ahead; in the first position in a...
3Middle Englishto-Affixed to verbs and verb inflections to impart a...
4Middle Englishtotoe; to; too
5Middle Englishtonethe one
6LatintonusThe stretching or straining of a rope; A strain;...
7Ancient Greekτόνοςrope, cord; chord; tone, note
8Proto-Hellenictónosrope, cord; tension
9Proto-Indo-Europeantónossomething stretched; chord, fiber, string
10Proto-Indo-Europeanten-to stretch, to extend

via English Time

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishTimeThe inevitable progression into the future with the passing of present and past events
2Middle Englishtymethyme; time; A specific duration or period of...
3Old Frenchthym
4Latinthymumthyme; accusative singular of thymus
5Ancient Greekθύμονthyme
6Ancient GreekθύωI offer in sacrifice, slay, burn, immolate; I...
7Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewh₂-smoke; mist, haze
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ten-
toforetime — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer