Etymology Explorer › Old English

Where does “open” come from?

open (Old English) comes from Proto-West Germanic *opan, from Proto-Germanic upanaz, from Proto-Indo-European upó, from Proto-Indo-European h₃ewp-.

open (Old English): open

Definitions

  1. open

Ancestry of “open”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-West Germanic*opan—
2Proto-Germanicupanazopen
3Proto-Indo-Europeanupóunder, below
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃ewp-—

Words derived from “open”

  • open
  • openly
  • opener
  • reopen
  • openwork
  • openhearted
  • openest
  • OpenBSD
  • opencast
  • openable
  • eyeopener
  • openheartedness
  • semiopen
  • unopen
  • openheartedly
  • unopenable
  • reopener
  • openbill
  • openhand
  • openability
  • breakopen
  • openside
  • reopenable
  • open-heartedly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃ewp- →