Where does “em” come from?
em (Middle English) comes from Old English ēam, from Old English ēahām, from Proto-West Germanic auhaim, from Proto-Germanic awô, from Proto-Germanic munduz, from Proto-Indo-European mh₂-nt-éh₂, from Proto-Indo-European men- — to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...
em (Middle English): Alternative form of hem
Ancestry of “em”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old English | ēam | maternal uncle; uncle |
| 2 | Old English | ēahām | — |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | auhaim | maternal uncle |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | awô | grandfather |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | munduz | protection, patron; hand, protection |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | mh₂-nt-éh₂ | the beckoning one |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | men- | to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,... |