Where does “men” come from?
men (Middle English) comes from Old English menn, from Proto-Germanic manniz, from Proto-Germanic mann-, from Proto-Indo-European men- — to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...
men (Middle English): Alternative form of man; plural of mon
Definitions
- Alternative form of man; plural of mon
Ancestry of “men”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old English | menn | plural of mann; men, persons, human beings;... |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | manniz | nominative/vocative plural of *mann- |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | mann- | human, human being, person, individual; name of... |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | men- | to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,... |