Where does “whilom” come from?
Whilom comes from Old English hwīlum, from Old English hwīl, from Proto-West Germanic hwīlu, from Proto-Germanic hwīlō, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European kʷyeh₁-, relating to rest or quiet.
whilom (English): While; Once upon a time, formerly; Former,...
Definitions
- While; Once upon a time, formerly; Former,...
Ancestry of “whilom”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old English | hwīlum | — |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | hwīlō | time, period of time, while; period of rest,... |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷyeh₁- | to rest; rest, peace |