English
ending
Ending comes from Old English endung, from endian ‘to end’ + -ung, from Proto-Germanic *andijaz ‘end’, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- ‘face, front’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂ent-‘face’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂entíos‘front’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*andijaz‘end’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*andijōną‘to end’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*andijōn‘to end’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150endian‘to end’
- Old English, derivedc. 450–1150endung
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500endynge
- Englishearliest quotation 1968ending
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂ent-‘face’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂entíos‘front’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*andijaz‘end’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*andijōną‘to end’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*andijōn‘to end’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150endian‘to end’
- Old English, derivedc. 450–1150endung
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500endynge
- Englishearliest quotation 1968ending
Earliest quotation: 1968, Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces: “Modern romance, like Greek tragedy, celebrates the mystery of…”
Formed from end + -ing
Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- ‘face, forehead, front’
…
Proto-Germanic *andijaz ‘end’
Proto-West Germanic *andī ‘end’
Old English ende ‘end’
Middle English ende ‘end’
English end
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- ‘face, forehead’
and, answer, ancient, antique, ante, 9 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂entíos ‘front, forehead, end’
through Proto-Germanic *andijaz ‘end’
through Old English endian ‘to end’
Today it means
noun A termination or conclusion.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- / ending