Where does “nam” come from?
nam (Middle English) comes from Old English nām, from Old Norse nám, from Proto-Germanic nēmō, from Proto-Germanic nemaną, from Proto-Indo-European nem- — to distribute; to give, to take.
Ancestry of “nam”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old English | nām | seizure of property |
| 2 | Old Norse | nám | occupation; acquisition, learning, study; taking,... |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | nēmō | taking, acceptance |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | nemaną | to take |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | nem- | to distribute; to give, to take |