Where does “elder” come from?

elder (Norwegian Bokmål) comes from Norwegian Bokmål elde, from Old Norse elda, from Old Norse eldr, from Proto-Germanic ailidaz, from Proto-Germanic ailijaną, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eydʰ- — to ignite; fire.

elder (Norwegian Bokmål): present of elde

Definitions

  1. present of elde

Ancestry of “elder”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Norwegian Bokmåleldeto age
2Old Norseeldato cause to be or appear old; to light, kindle a...
3Old Norseeldrfire
4Proto-Germanicailidazfire, pyre
5Proto-Germanicailijanąto kindle
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eydʰ-to ignite; fire
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eydʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic ailijaną →Every word from Proto-Germanic ailidaz →
elder — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer