English
helper
Helper comes from Proto-Germanic *helpō ‘help, aid, assistance’, and goes back to *helpaną.
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*helpaną‘to help’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*helpō‘help, aid, assistance’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*helpureconstructed
- Proto-West Germanic, derivedc. 200–500 CE*helpārīreconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150*helperereconstructed
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500helpere
- Englishearliest quotation 1964helper
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*helpaną‘to help’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*helpō‘help, aid, assistance’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*helpureconstructed
- Proto-West Germanic, derivedc. 200–500 CE*helpārīreconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150*helperereconstructed
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500helpere
- Englishearliest quotation 1964helper
Earliest quotation: 1964, Automatic helper locomotive control on the Louisville & Nash: “A device for the automatic control of crewless helper…”
Formed from help + -er
Proto-Indo-European *ḱelb- ‘to help’
…
Proto-Germanic *helpō ‘help, aid’
Proto-West Germanic *helpu
Old English help ‘help, aid, assistance’
Middle English help
English help
Linked words
through Proto-Germanic *helpaną ‘to help’
through Proto-Germanic *helpō ‘help, aid, assistance’
Today it means
noun One who helps; an aide; assistant; auxiliary.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Germanic *helpaną / helper