Etymology Explorer › Old English

Where does “are” come from?

are (Old English) comes from Old English ār, from Proto-West Germanic aiʀu, from Proto-Germanic aizō, from Proto-Indo-European h₂oys-éh₂, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eys- — to wish; to request.

are (Old English): honor, glory, grace; dative singular of ār

Definitions

  1. honor, glory, grace; dative singular of ār

Ancestry of “are”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishārhonour, help, pardon; honor, worth, dignity,...
2Proto-West Germanicaiʀuhonour; respect, reverence
3Proto-Germanicaizōfear; reverence; honour
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂oys-éh₂—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eys-to wish; to request
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eys- →