on high

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · inherited from*kewk-“height; to elevate”
2. Old English · inherited fromon hēagum“on high”
3. Middle English · inherited fromon heigh
4. English todayon high

From Middle English on heigh, on an heigh (“in or into heaven; up to heaven”) [and other forms], from Old English on hēagum (“on high”); hēagum is an inflected form of hēah (“high; tall”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kewk- (“height; to elevate”). The English word is equivalent to on + high. Compare Dutch omhoog (“upwards, on high”), West Frisian omheech (“upwards”).

Words from the same roots