Where does “efn-” come from?
efn- (Old English) comes from Old English efn, from Proto-West Germanic ebn, from Proto-Germanic ebnaz, from Proto-Indo-European h₁émnos — equal, straight; flat, level, even.
efn- (Old English): denoting equality: equal, equally
Definitions
- denoting equality: equal, equally
Ancestry of “efn-”, step by step
efn- traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Old English efn
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | efn | equal, level, even |
| 2 | Proto-West Germanic | ebn | even, level |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | ebnaz | even, level |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁émnos | equal, straight; flat, level, even |
via Proto-Germanic ebna-
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proto-Germanic | ebna- | like-, level, equal- |