Where does “every” come from?
every (Middle English) comes from Old English ǣlċ, from Old English ǣġhwylċ, from Proto-Germanic aiwô — ever, always.
every (Middle English): Alternative form of everich
Definitions
- Alternative form of everich
Ancestry of “every”, step by step
every traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Old English ǣlċ
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | ǣlċ | — |
| 2 | Old English | ǣġhwylċ | each, every, any, all |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | aiwô | ever, always |
via Old English ǣfre
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | ǣfre | — |