Etymograph

English

anterior

Anterior comes from Latin anterior ‘that is before, foremost’, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂en ‘on the other side’, and ultimately from *h₂en- ‘on, onto’.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂en-‘on, onto’root as named
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂en‘on the other side’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂énterosreconstructed
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEanterior‘that is before, foremost’
  5. Englishearliest quotation 1859same form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂en-‘on, onto’root as named
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂en‘on the other side’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂énterosreconstructed
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEanterior‘that is before, foremost’
  5. Englishearliest quotation 1859same form

Earliest quotation: 1859, John Stuart Mill: “anterior to the time when mankind have become capable…”

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *h₂en- ‘on, onto’

on, end, along, upon, ana, asunder, 8 more

through Proto-Indo-European *h₂énteros

other, 2 more

Today it means

adj Nearer the forward end, especially in the front of the body; nearer the head or forepart of an animal.

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

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂en- / anterior

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