Etymology of welcome by etymonline (2024)

FAQs

What are the origins of the word welcome? ›

Welcome derives from the Old English wilcuma, a noun meaning “a desired guest.” It acquired some of its more familiar senses in the Middle Ages, when it was used as an adjective meaning “agreeable, pleasing” (“His gift was welcome,” circa 1300) or “cordially invited to do something” (“You should be welcome to go home ...

For the immediate ancestry of an English word, however, your first stop should be the Oxford English Dictionary (OED). The recorded ancestors of an English word can usually be found within the entry for that word in the OED online [Harvard Key required] or in the print version of the OED (2nd ed., 1989).

1. : to greet hospitably and with courtesy or cordiality. 2. : to accept with pleasure the occurrence or presence of.

The word "enough" has an interesting etymology. It comes from the Old English word "genōh," which means "sufficient" or "satisfactory." The Old English term "genōh" itself is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*ganôh," which has similar meanings of sufficiency or satisfaction.

While we might never be able to definitively say where “welcome in” started, if I had to guess I'd say it started as a bit of Southern vernacular that crossed over into widespread usage as a result of the pandemic.

acceptus : welcome, pleasant, agreeable. accipio : to consider oneself indebted, receive, learn, take.

The Online Etymology Dictionary has been referenced by Oxford University's "Arts and Humanities Community Resource" catalog as "an excellent tool for those seeking the origins of words" and cited in the Chicago Tribune as one of the "best resources for finding just the right word".

The English word god comes from the Old English god, which itself is derived from the Proto-Germanic *gudą. Its cognates in other Germanic languages include guþ, gudis (both Gothic), guð (Old Norse), god (Old Saxon, Old Frisian, and Old Dutch), and got (Old High German).

Etymologies frequently show the root word in Latin, Greek, Old English, French, etc. The most famous etymological dictionary is the Oxford English Dictionary (known as the OED).

The earliest known use of the word welcome is in the Old English period (pre-1150). welcome is a word inherited from Germanic.

What is the meaning of welcome in Oxford English? ›

/ˈwelkəm/ ​used as a greeting to tell somebody that you are pleased that they are there. Welcome home! welcome to something Welcome to Oxford!

Enough is an adjective that describes something that is adequate for an intended purpose. Enough is also used as an adverb to mean sufficiently or fully. Enough also has senses as a pronoun and an interjection. Enough describes something as being adequate or sufficient.

1. : in or to a degree or quantity that satisfies or that is sufficient or necessary for satisfaction : sufficiently. 2.

For example, No more speeches—enough is enough, or as Robert Southey put it (The Doctor, 1834): “As for money, enough is enough; no man can enjoy more.” This expression already appeared in John Heywood's proverb collection of 1546 and is often used as an interjection (first example).

It can involve verbal or physical gestures, such as saying hello, shaking hands, or embracing, depending on the specific culture. 'Welcome' is specifically used to refer to receiving someone upon their arrival in a place. It implies a warmer and more hospitable greeting, showing kindness, acceptance, and hospitality.