Etymology Explorer › Old English

Where does “hafian” come from?

hafian (Old English) comes from Proto-West Germanic habbjan, from Proto-Germanic habjaną, from Proto-Indo-European kh₂pyé-, from Proto-Indo-European keh₂p- — to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,...

hafian (Old English): to have

Definitions

  1. to have

Ancestry of “hafian”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-West Germanichabbjanto have; to lift
2Proto-Germanichabjanąto have, to hold; to lift, heave
3Proto-Indo-Europeankh₂pyé-—
4Proto-Indo-Europeankeh₂p-to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,...

Words derived from “hafian”

  • hast
  • Hayes
  • haven
  • haue
  • han
  • haw
  • Brookhaven
  • to've
  • haven't
  • hawfinch
  • havenae
  • havest
  • will've
  • haveless
  • possumhaw
  • mightn't've
  • havable
  • havenage
  • can haz
  • tax haven
  • have reason
  • 've
  • mustn't've
  • have the biscuit
Every word from Proto-Indo-European keh₂p- →