Where does “anden” come from?
anden (Middle English) comes from Old English andian, from Proto-West Germanic anadōn, from Proto-Germanic anadōną, from Proto-Indo-European h₂enh₁‑ — to breathe.
Ancestry of “anden”, step by step
anden traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Old English andian
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | andian | to envy; to be jealous |
| 2 | Proto-West Germanic | anadōn | to be zealous, fervent; to be envious, jealous |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | anadōną | to breathe; exhale; to puff; to sputter; snort |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂enh₁‑ | to breathe |
via Old Norse anda
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old Norse | anda | to breathe, live |