Where does “either” come from?

either (Middle English) comes from Old English ǣġþer, from Old English ǣġhwæþer, from Proto-Germanic aiw — always, for ever.

either (Middle English): Both of two; Each of two; Either of two

Definitions

  1. Both of two; Each of two; Either of two

Ancestry of “either”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishǣġþer—
2Old Englishǣġhwæþer—
3Proto-Germanicaiwalways, for ever

Words derived from “either”

Every word from Proto-Germanic aiw →Every word from Old English ǣġhwæþer →Every word from Old English ǣġþer →