Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “time” come from?

time (Middle English) comes from Old French thym, from Latin thymum, from Ancient Greek θύμον, from Ancient Greek θύω, from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂- — smoke; mist, haze.

time (Middle English): Alternative form of tyme

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of tyme

Ancestry of “time”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchthym—
2Latinthymumthyme; accusative singular of thymus
3Ancient Greekθύμονthyme
4Ancient GreekθύωI offer in sacrifice, slay, burn, immolate; I...
5Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewh₂-smoke; mist, haze

Words derived from “time”

  • times
  • Times
  • wartime
  • daytime
  • anytime
  • overtime
  • timer
  • timeless
  • longtime
  • timeline
  • timetable
  • lunchtime
  • springtime
  • peacetime
  • downtime
  • timescale
  • spacetime
  • timeout
  • betimes
  • onetime
  • timestamp
  • ragtime
  • ofttimes
  • dinnertime
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂- →