Where does “n-” come from?
n- (Scots) comes from Scots ain, from Middle English aȝen, from Old English āgen, from Proto-West Germanic aigan, from Proto-Germanic *aiganą, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eh₂óyḱe, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eyḱ- — to possess, to own.
Ancestry of “n-”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scots | ain | Belonging to, or on behalf of, a specified person... |
| 2 | Middle English | aȝen | Alternative form of awen |
| 3 | Old English | āgen | peculiar; own, proper, peculiar |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | aigan | to possess, to own, to have; own |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | *aiganą | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eh₂óyḱe | to possess, to own |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eyḱ- | to possess, to own |