Where does “なり” come from?

なり (Japanese) comes from Japanese に, from Old Japanese に.

なり (Japanese): c. late 9th–mid-10th century, Taketori...

Definitions

  1. c. late 9th–mid-10th century, Taketori...

Ancestry of “なり”, step by step

なり traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Japanese に

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Japaneseにparticle for indirect objects; to; particle for...
2Old Japaneseに—

via Japanese あり

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Japaneseあり有り existing; 蟻 ant

Words derived from “なり”

Every word from Old Japanese に →Every word from Japanese に →