Where does “old” come from?

old (Middle Low German) comes from Middle Low German ôlt, from Proto-Germanic aldaz, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eltós, from Proto-Indo-European h₂él- — to grow, nourish.

old (Middle Low German): Alternative spelling of ôlt

Definitions

  1. Alternative spelling of ôlt

Ancestry of “old”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Low Germanôltold
2Proto-Germanicaldazold, grown up
3Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eltós—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂él-to grow, nourish

Words derived from “old”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂él- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eltós →Every word from Proto-Germanic aldaz →