Where does “upon” come from?

Upon descends from Old English upon, a preposition of uncertain ultimate origin and meaning.

upon (English): Physically above and in contact with; Physically...

Definitions

  1. Physically above and in contact with; Physically...

Ancestry of “upon”, step by step

upon traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Middle English upon

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishuponupon
2Middle Englishup-—
3Old Englishūp-up-
4Old Englishūpup, from above
5Proto-Germanicuppup, upwards
6Proto-Germanicubunder
7Proto-Indo-Europeanupóunder, below
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃ewp-—

via English on

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishonIn the state of being active, functioning or...
2Middle Englishonon, in; on; Alternative form of oon
3Old Englishonon, in, at, among; from
4Proto-West Germanicanaon
5Proto-Germanic*an—
6Proto-Germanicanaon, at; on, onto; ana
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂en-on, onto

via English up

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishupAway from the surface of the Earth or other...
2Middle Englishupto a vertical axis
3Old Englishuppup; upstairs
4Proto-West Germanic*upp—

Words derived from “upon”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃ewp- →