Where does “ece” come from?
ece (Middle English) comes from Old English ēċe, from Proto-Germanic aiwukiz, from Proto-Germanic aiwō, from Proto-Germanic aiwaz, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eyu-, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ey- — vital force, life, age, eternity; day, morning.
Ancestry of “ece”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old English | ēċe | — |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | aiwukiz | eternal, lasting forever |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | aiwō | long time, age, eternity; ever, always |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | aiwaz | long time, age, eternity |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eyu- | vitality; eternal; vital force, life, long life,... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ey- | vital force, life, age, eternity; day, morning |