English
enter
Enter comes from Old French entrer, from Latin intrō ‘to go into’, from intrā ‘inside’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁en ‘in’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁en‘in’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁énteros‘inside, within’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEintrā‘within, inside’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEintrō‘to enter, go into’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400entrer‘to enter’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500entren
- Englishearliest quotation 1555enter
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁en‘in’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁énteros‘inside, within’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEintrā‘within, inside’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEintrō‘to enter, go into’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400entrer‘to enter’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500entren
- Englishearliest quotation 1555enter
Earliest quotation: 1555, John Proctor, The historie of Wyates rebellion: “[…]you can fynde in youre heartes to assaulte her…”
The story
Has been spelled as "enter" for several centuries even in the United Kingdom, although British English and the English of many Commonwealth Countries.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *terh₂- ‘to cross over, pass through, overcome’
through, trans, thorough, avatar, tram, tranquillity, tardy, torus, très, sarai, 20 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₁en ‘in’
through Proto-Indo-European *h₁énteros ‘inner, what is inside’
introduce, interior, intro, dysentery, 13 more
through Latin intrō
through Old French entrer ‘to enter’
Today it means
verb To go or come into an enclosed or partially enclosed space.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₁en / enter