Where does “eher” come from?
eher (German) comes from Middle High German ēre, from Old High German ēra, from Proto-West Germanic aiʀu, from Proto-Germanic aizō, from Proto-Indo-European h₂oys-éh₂, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eys- — to wish; to request.
eher (German): rather, quite; comparatively, somewhat; earlier
Definitions
- rather, quite; comparatively, somewhat; earlier
Ancestry of “eher”, step by step
eher traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle High German ēre
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle High German | ēre | honour, respect, renown |
| 2 | Old High German | ēra | honour, fame, sense of honour |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | aiʀu | honour; respect, reverence |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | aizō | fear; reverence; honour |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂oys-éh₂ | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eys- | to wish; to request |
via Proto-West Germanic *ahaʀ
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proto-West Germanic | *ahaʀ | ear |