any

any
any (adj.) O.E. ænig "any, anyone," lit. "one-y," from P.Gmc. *ainagas (Cf. O.S. enig, O.N. einigr, O.Fris. enich, Du. enig, Ger. einig), from PIE *oi-no- "one, unique" (see ONE (Cf. one)). The -y may have diminutive force here.
Emphatic form any old ______ (British variant: any bloody ______) is recorded from 1896. At any rate is recorded from 1847. Among the large family of compounds beginning with any-, anykyn "any kind" (c.1300) did not survive, and Anywhen (1831) is rarely used, but OED calls it "common in Southern [British] dialects."

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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Synonyms:
(of many), / (indefinitely), , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

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