English
alien
Alien comes from Latin aliēnus ‘belonging to someone else”, later “exotic,…’, from alius ‘other’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂el-‘beyond, other’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂élyos‘other, another’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*aljosreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEalius‘other’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEaliēnus‘belonging to someone else”, later “exotic, foreign’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400alien
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500alien‘an outsider or foreign person, especially if resident in one's nation’
- Englishearliest quotation 1611alien
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂el-‘beyond, other’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂élyos‘other, another’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*aljosreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEalius‘other’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEaliēnus‘belonging to someone else”, later “exotic, foreign’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400alien
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500alien‘an outsider or foreign person, especially if resident in one's nation’
- Englishearliest quotation 1611alien
Earliest quotation: 1611, The Holy Bible, London: […] Robert Barker: “[…]aliens from the common wealth of Iſrael[…]”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- ‘beyond, other’
as, all, old, adult, el, ultimate, ultra, element, elder, outrage, ou, alter, ellen, altitude, alumni, qualification, altar, alt, adolescent, alpine, abolish, alto, proletariat, auld, alum, ulterior, alias, retaliate, alp, alimony, coalesce, aad, eld, foetal, exalt, althea, altimeter, withal, 60 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂élyos ‘other, another’
through Proto-Italic *aljos
alternate, adultery, altercation, altruism, alternation, 20 more
through Latin alius ‘other’
through Latin aliēnus ‘belonging to someone else”, later “exotic,…’
Today it means
noun A person, animal, plant, or other thing which is from outside the family, group, organization, or territory under consideration.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- / alien