English

Holy Father

Holy Father comes from Middle English haly fadire.

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

Formed from holy + Father

Proto-Indo-European *kéh₂ilos ‘intact’

…

Proto-Germanic *hailagaz ‘holy’

Proto-West Germanic *hailag ‘holy’

Old English hāleġ ‘holy’

Middle English ali

English holy

Proto-Indo-European *ph₂tḗr

Proto-Germanic *fadēr

Proto-West Germanic *fader

Old English fæder

Middle English fader ‘a father’

Every English word from Middle English haly fadire

name God or God the Father (in various Christian churches)

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.