ur-

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*úd“upwards, away, out, outwards”
2. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*uds-“up, out”
3. Proto-Germanic · derived from*uz-“out”
4. Proto-West Germanic · derived from*uʀ-
5. Old High German · derived fromur-“out; without”
6. Middle High German · derived fromur-
7. German · borrowed fromur-
8. English todayur-

Contrary to popular belief, not derived from the ancient Mesopotamian city of Ur being one of the first cities. From German ur-, from Middle High German ur-, from Old High German ur- (“out; without”), from Proto-West Germanic *uʀ-, from Proto-Germanic *uz- (“out”), from Proto-Indo-European *uds- (“up, out”), from Proto-Indo-European *úd (“upwards, away, out, outwards”). Doublet of a- and or-, which is no longer productive (fossilized in e.g. ordeal). Cognate also with Dutch oer- and Dutch oor-.

Words from the same roots