Where does “fyrn” come from?
fyrn (Old English) comes from Proto-Germanic firnijaz, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.
fyrn (Old English): former; ancient
Ancestry of “fyrn”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Proto-Germanic | firnijaz | old, former |
| 2 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |