Where does “twopennyworth” come from?
twopennyworth (English) comes from English twopenny, from English two, from Middle English two, from Old English twā, from Old English twēġen, from Proto-West Germanic twai-, from Proto-Germanic twai, from Proto-Indo-European dwóh₁ — two.
twopennyworth (English): A portion worth twopence
Definitions
- A portion worth twopence
Ancestry of “twopennyworth”, step by step
twopennyworth traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English twopenny
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | twopenny | Having a value or cost of twopence; Cheap;... |
| 2 | English | two | A numerical value equal to 2; this many dots;... |
| 3 | Middle English | two | two |
| 4 | Old English | twā | two |
| 5 | Old English | twēġen | two; twain |
| 6 | Proto-West Germanic | twai- | two |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | twai | two |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | dwóh₁ | two |
via English worth
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | worth | Having a value of; proper to be exchanged for;... |
| 2 | Middle English | worth | to become |
| 3 | Old English | weorþ | worth, deserving; honoured, esteemed; worth,... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | werþaz | worthy, valuable |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | wert- | to turn, to rotate |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | wer- | to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel |