Etymology

him

H4I1M3

Today it means: With dative effect or as an indirect object. Full definition →

First used 9th c.Middle English him ← Old English him ← Proto-Germanic *himmai
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him · pronoun, noun1

  1. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*himmai“to this, to this one”
  2. Old English · inherited fromhim
  3. Middle English · inherited fromhim
  4. English todayhim

From Middle English him, from Old English him, from Proto-Germanic *himmai (“to this, to this one”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian him (“him”), West Frisian him (“him”), Sylt North Frisian ham, höm (“him”), Dutch hem (“him”), German Low German hum, hüm, em (“him”), German ihm (“him”, dative).

Him · proper noun2

A surname of Khmer origin.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 9th c. With dative effect or as an indirect object.
  • from 9th c. Following a preposition.
  • from 12th c. With accusative effect or as a direct object.
  • from 9th c. Used reflexively: (to) himself.
  • from 15th c. With nominative effect: he, especially as a predicate after be, or following a preposition.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.