Where does “æ” come from?

æ (Old English) comes from Proto-West Germanic aiw, from Proto-Germanic aiwaz, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eyu-, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ey- — vital force, life, age, eternity; day, morning.

æ (Old English): law; marriage; Alternative form of ēa: river,...

Definitions

  1. law; marriage; Alternative form of ēa: river,...

Ancestry of “æ”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-West Germanicaiwlong time, age, eternity; law
2Proto-Germanicaiwazlong time, age, eternity
3Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eyu-vitality; eternal; vital force, life, long life,...
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ey-vital force, life, age, eternity; day, morning
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂ey- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eyu- →Every word from Proto-Germanic aiwaz →
æ — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer