English
two
Two comes from Middle English two, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*dwóh₁reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*twaireconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*twai-reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150twā
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500two
- Englishearliest quotation 1912same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*dwóh₁reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*twaireconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*twai-reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150twā
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500two
- Englishearliest quotation 1912same form
Earliest quotation: 1912, Zane Grey, New York: “Venters began to count them—one—two—three—four—on up to sixteen.”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁
doubt, vice, defeat, dual, duo, binary, twin, vicious, diplomacy, dubious, duet, bis, disparate, biceps, deuce, bes, binocular, twig, betwixt, 21 more
through Proto-Germanic *twai
through Proto-West Germanic *twai-
Today it means
num A numerical value equal to 2; the number following one and preceding three.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ / two