Where does “often” come from?
often (Middle English) comes from Middle English ofte, from Old English oft, from Old High German oftu, from Proto-Germanic uftō — oft; often.
often (Middle English): repeatedly, again and again, many times, frequently
Definitions
- repeatedly, again and again, many times, frequently
Ancestry of “often”, step by step
often traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English ofte
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | ofte | oft, often |
| 2 | Old English | oft | often |
| 3 | Old High German | oftu | — |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | uftō | oft; often |
via Middle English oft
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | oft | — |