Where does “soc” come from?

soc (Middle English) comes from Old English sōcn, from Proto-West Germanic sōkni, from Proto-Germanic sōkniz, from Proto-Indo-European sekʷ- — to follow; to see; to say.

Ancestry of “soc”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishsōcninquiry, prosecution; jurisdiction, prosecution;...
2Proto-West Germanicsōkni—
3Proto-Germanicsōknizinvestigation; probe; examination; inquiry;...
4Proto-Indo-Europeansekʷ-to follow; to see; to say
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sekʷ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic sōkniz →Every word from Proto-West Germanic sōkni →