Where does “ei” come from?
ei (Norwegian Nynorsk) comes from Middle Norwegian eigh, from Old Norse eigi, from Proto-Germanic aigô, from Proto-Germanic aiganą, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eh₂óyḱe, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eyḱ- — to possess, to own.
ei (Norwegian Nynorsk): a, an; feminine singular of ein; not
Definitions
- a, an; feminine singular of ein; not
Ancestry of “ei”, step by step
ei traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle Norwegian eigh
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle Norwegian | eigh | — |
| 2 | Old Norse | eigi | possession; property; not |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | aigô | one who owns or possesses; owner, possessor |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | aiganą | to possess, to own, to have |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eh₂óyḱe | to possess, to own |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eyḱ- | to possess, to own |