English
withal
Withal comes from Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- ‘to grow, nourish’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂el-‘to grow, nourish’root as named · steps between not traced
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500withal
- Englishearliest quotation 1526same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂el-‘to grow, nourish’root as named · steps between not traced
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500withal
- Englishearliest quotation 1526same form
Earliest quotation: 1526, [William Tyndale, The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible): “What ſhall hit proffet a man, yf he ſhulde…”
The story
The adverb is derived from Middle English withal, with-al, withalle (‘against, in opposition to; in association with, together with; by means of’), from with (“against; close to, near; directly opposite to; in the company of, together with; on, upon; within; etc.”, preposition) + al (‘total number in a group, all, everyone, everything’). The word displaced Old English mid ealle. The postposition is derived from the adverb.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- ‘to grow, nourish’
as, all, old, else, adult, el, ultimate, element, ultra, elder, ellen, alien, alternate, outrage, alter, ou, qualification, alumni, adolescent, altar, altitude, abolish, alt, alpine, alias, alto, proletariat, alum, auld, retaliate, ulterior, alimony, alibi, altruism, alp, parallax, coalesce, aad, eld, foetal, 67 more
Today it means
adv Together with the rest; besides; in addition.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- / withal