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/mɔːr/
determiner, adjective, adverb
Origin
Proto-Indo-European
*me- — large, much
Overview
Meaning Now
- A greater or additional amount or degree of something.
- Used to form the comparative of many adjectives and adverbs.
Literal older meaning
greater in size, amount, or number
Language path
Proto-Indo-European → Proto-Germanic → Old English → Modern English
Earliest form
māra
Earliest period
Old English
Journey
The word originates from the Germanic comparative suffix *-izon added to a base denoting 'big'. It has remained structurally stable in English for over a millennium, reflecting its role as a fundamental comparative marker.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*maira-
“greater”
Comparative form derived from *mikilaz
- Old English
māra
“greater, more”
- Middle English
more
“greater in size or number”
Connections
Word parts
more
root
greater in quantity or degree
Related across languages
German
mehr
more
Dutch
meer
more
Old Saxon
mēro
greater
Related words
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Related to more
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.