old
Having lived or existed for a long time; not young or new.
Etymology
From Old English eald/ald, from Proto-Germanic *aldaz, originally the past participle of *alaną "to grow up, nourish." This traces to PIE *h₂el- "to grow, nourish." Something old is literally "grown up, fully developed."
The Journey: *h₂el- → old
*h₂el-
*aldaz
eald
old
Cognates Across Languages
These words in other languages descend from the same PIE root *h₂el-. They are not borrowings but independent inheritances from a common ancestor.
| Language | Word |
|---|---|
| Greek | (none direct) |
| Latin | alere (to nourish) |
| Gothic | alþeis |
| Old Norse | aldri (age) |
| Old Frisian | ald |
| Old High German | alt |
Did You Know?
Latin alere "to nourish" from the same root gave English "adult" (one who has grown up), "adolescent" (one who is growing), "alma mater" (nourishing mother), and "altitude" (grown high).
This word descends from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂el-. See the full root page for descendant trees, sound law references, and scholarly discussion.