English
make
Make comes from Old English macian ‘to make, build’, from Proto-West Germanic *makōn ‘to make suitable; to build’, and ultimately from Proto-Germanic *makaz ‘fit, suitable’, of uncertain origin.
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*makaz‘fit, suitable, agreeable’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*mak‘fit, suitable’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanic, derivedc. 200–500 CE*makōn‘to make suitable; to build, make’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150macian‘to make, build, work’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500maken
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1597make
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*makaz‘fit, suitable, agreeable’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*mak‘fit, suitable’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanic, derivedc. 200–500 CE*makōn‘to make suitable; to build, make’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150macian‘to make, build, work’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500maken
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1597make
Earliest quotation: c. 1597, William Shakespeare, The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]: “Considerations infinite Do make against it.”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *meh₂ǵ- ‘to knead’
through Old English macian ‘to build, make, work’
Another origin of make
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*maǵ-‘to knead, oil’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*gamakô‘companion, comrade’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*gamakōreconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150ġemaca‘a mate, an equal, companion, peer’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500make‘a bride or mate’
- Englishtodaysame form
Reinforced by Old Norse maki (‘an equal’).
Today it means
verb To build, construct, produce, or originate.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Germanic *makaz / make