Where does “einander” come from?

einander (Middle High German) comes from Old High German ein, from Proto-West Germanic ain, from Proto-Germanic ainaz, from Proto-Indo-European óynos — one; single.

Ancestry of “einander”, step by step

einander traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old High German ein

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old High Germaneinone; only
2Proto-West Germanicainone
3Proto-Germanicainazone; some
4Proto-Indo-Europeanóynosone; single

via Old High German andar

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old High Germanandarsecond; other
2Proto-West Germanic*anþarsecond
3Proto-Germanicanþerazsecond; other
4Proto-Indo-Europeanánterosother

Words derived from “einander

Every word from Proto-Indo-European óynosEvery word from Proto-Germanic ainazEvery word from Proto-West Germanic ain