Etymology Explorer › Old English

Where does “arian” come from?

arian (Old English) comes from Proto-Germanic aizāną, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eys- — to wish; to request.

arian (Old English): to show mercy to, spare

Definitions

  1. to show mercy to, spare

Ancestry of “arian”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Germanicaizānąto honour
2Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eys-to wish; to request
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eys- →