5 Questions
What is the etymology of the word 'more'?
The word 'more' comes from Old English mara, which means 'greater, relatively greater, more, stronger, mightier.'
What is the Proto-Germanic origin of the word 'more'?
The Proto-Germanic origin of the word 'more' is *maiz, which is also found in Old Saxon mera, Old Norse meiri, Old Frisian mara, Middle Dutch mere, Old High German meriro, German mehr, Gothic maiza.
How was 'more' used in Old English as an adverb?
Sometimes used as an adverb in Old English, meaning 'in addition.'
What did Old English generally use as adverb and noun instead of 'more'?
Old English generally used related 'ma' as adverb and noun instead of 'more.'
When did 'more' in the sense of 'larger and larger amounts' begin to predominate in later Middle English?
More in the sense of 'larger and larger amounts' began to predominate in later Middle English.
Study Notes
Etymology of "More"
- Derived from Old English "mara", meaning "greater, relatively greater, more, stronger, mightier"
- Comparative form of "micel", meaning "great" (see mickle)
Proto-Germanic Origins
- From Proto-Germanic "*maiz", source of:
- Old Saxon "mera"
- Old Norse "meiri"
- Old Frisian "mara"
- Middle Dutch "mere"
- Old High German "meriro"
- German "mehr"
- Gothic "maiza"
PIE Roots
- From PIE "*meis-", source of:
- Avestan "mazja", meaning "greater"
- Old Irish "mor", meaning "great"
- Welsh "mawr", meaning "great"
- Greek "-moros", meaning "great"
- Oscan "mais", meaning "more"
- Possibly from root "*me-", meaning "big"
Usage Evolution
- In Old English, "more" sometimes used as an adverb, meaning "in addition"
- Old English generally used "ma" as adverb and noun
- In Middle English, "mo" was used, but "more" became predominant later on
Noun and Phrase Usage
- As a noun, "more" means "a greater quantity, amount, or number" in Old English
- Phrase "more and more" means "larger and larger amounts" from the 12th century onwards
- Phrase "more or less" means "in a greater or lesser degree" from the early 13th century onwards
Test your knowledge of the etymology, origin, and meaning of the word "more" with this quiz. Explore the historical roots and comparative usage of this common English term.
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