English
mair
Mair comes from Old English māra ‘more’, from Proto-Germanic *mikilaz ‘great, large’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂s.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*méǵh₂s‘big, great’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*mikilazas *maizô‘great, large’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150māra‘more’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500mair
- Englishtodaysame form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*méǵh₂s‘big, great’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*mikilazas *maizô‘great, large’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150māra‘more’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500mair
- Englishtodaysame form
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂s ‘big, great’
major, master, mayor, magnitude, magnum, maxim, magnate, magnify, maggiore, mahila, 16 more
through Proto-Germanic *mikilaz ‘great, large’
through Old English māra ‘more’
Today it means
adj more
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂s / mair