Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “erve” come from?

erve (Middle English) comes from Old English ierfe, from Proto-West Germanic arbī, from Proto-Germanic arbiją, from Proto-Indo-European h₃erbʰ- — to change allegiance, status, ownership;...

erve (Middle English): Stock, cattle; farm animals; An individual farm...

Definitions

  1. Stock, cattle; farm animals; An individual farm...

Ancestry of “erve”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishierfeheritage; bequest, inheritance; inherited...
2Proto-West Germanicarbīinheritance
3Proto-Germanicarbijąheritage, inheritance
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃erbʰ-to change allegiance, status, ownership;...

Words derived from “erve”

  • erf
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃erbʰ- →