Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “þey” come from?

þey (Middle English) comes from Middle English þigh, from Old English þēoh, from Proto-Germanic þeuhą, from Proto-Indo-European tewk-, from Proto-Indo-European tew- — to be attentive in a friendly manner; to swell;...

þey (Middle English): Alternative form of þei; Alternative form of þe;...

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of þei; Alternative form of þe;...

Ancestry of “þey”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishþighthigh
2Old Englishþēohthigh
3Proto-Germanicþeuhąthigh
4Proto-Indo-Europeantewk-germ, seed, sprout, offspring
5Proto-Indo-Europeantew-to be attentive in a friendly manner; to swell;...

Words derived from “þey”

  • they
Every word from Proto-Indo-European tew- →