follow
/ˈfɒləʊ/
verb
Origin
Proto-Germanic
*fulgjan — to follow, accompany
Overview
Meaning Now
- To go or come after a person or thing moving ahead.
- To accept or act in accordance with a set of rules, instructions, or a leader.
- To understand the sense or trend of an argument or explanation.
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Old English → English
Earliest form
folgian
Earliest period
Old English period
Journey
The verb originated from a Common Germanic base associated with the act of accompanying someone. In Middle English, the spelling varied significantly including 'folwe' and 'folghe', eventually stabilizing into the modern form.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*fulgjan
“to go after, accompany”
- Old English
folgian
“to follow, pursue, obey”
- Middle English
folwen
“to accompany, go along with”
- Modern English
follow
“to go behind, obey, or comprehend”
Connections
Word parts
follow
root
to go after
Related across languages
Old High German
folgen
to follow
Old Norse
fylgja
to follow
Explore next
Related to follow
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.