Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “inward” come from?

inward (Middle English) comes from Old English inweard, from Old English weard, from Old English ōra, from Old English ēar, from Proto-Germanic ahaz, from Proto-Finnic ahtas, from Proto-Baltic anśtas, from Proto-Indo-European h₂énǵʰus — to constrict, tighten, compress; narrow, tight;...

inward (Middle English): inwards, to the interior, especially referring...

Definitions

  1. inwards, to the interior, especially referring...

Ancestry of “inward”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishinweardinternal, inward, internal; within
2Old Englishweardguard; guard, the action of looking out for...
3Old Englishōraore, unwrought metal
4Old Englishēarsea, ocean; grave, earth
5Proto-Germanicahazear
6Proto-Finnicahtasnarrow, cramped
7Proto-Balticanśtas—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂énǵʰusnarrow, tight
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂enǵʰ-to constrict, tighten, compress; narrow, tight;...

Words derived from “inward”

  • inward
  • inwardly
  • inwardness
  • inwardes
  • inwardnesse
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂enǵʰ- →