Where does “towhile” come from?
towhile (Middle English) comes from Middle English to, from Middle English tone, from Latin tonus, from Ancient Greek τόνος, from Proto-Hellenic tónos, from Proto-Indo-European tónos, from Proto-Indo-European ten- — to stretch, to extend.
towhile (Middle English): For as long as; for the duration of; while
Definitions
- For as long as; for the duration of; while
Ancestry of “towhile”, step by step
towhile traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English to
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | to | toe; to; too |
| 2 | Middle English | tone | the one |
| 3 | Latin | tonus | The stretching or straining of a rope; A strain;... |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | τόνος | rope, cord; chord; tone, note |
| 5 | Proto-Hellenic | tónos | rope, cord; tension |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | tónos | something stretched; chord, fiber, string |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ten- | to stretch, to extend |
via Middle English while
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | while | — |
| 2 | Old English | hwīl | time; while; while; time, while |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | hwīlu | period of rest, pause; time, period of time,... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | hwīlō | time, period of time, while; period of rest,... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷyeh₁- | to rest; rest, peace |