Where does “elnian” come from?

elnian (Old English) comes from Old English ellen, from Proto-West Germanic alljan, from Proto-Germanic aljaną, from Proto-Indo-European h₁elh₂- — to drive, move, go.

elnian (Old English): to encourage, strengthen; to emulate, endeavor to...

Definitions

  1. to encourage, strengthen; to emulate, endeavor to...

Ancestry of “elnian”, step by step

elnian traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old English ellen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishellenstrength, courage, bravery; elder tree; elder...
2Proto-West Germanicalljanzeal
3Proto-Germanicaljanązeal, eagerness; strength, courage; to cause to...
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁elh₂-to drive, move, go

via Proto-Germanic aljanōną

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Germanicaljanōnąto be zealous for, to strive for
2Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂él-to grow, nourish

Words derived from “elnian”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁elh₂- →Every word from Proto-Germanic aljaną →Every word from Proto-West Germanic alljan →