h₂ent- (Proto-Indo-European)

Where does "h₂ent-" come from?

The Proto-Indo-European root '*h₂ent-' carried meanings related to the 'face', 'forehead', and 'front'[1]. This ancient root is perhaps an extension of the form '*h₂en-', which meant 'on' or 'onto'[1].

Open questions

• The derivation of the root from an older form is uncertain and proposed as a possibility. [1]

Full etymology tree

• *h₂ent- (Proto-Indo-European), 'face'
  • derived *h₂en- (Proto-Indo-European), 'on, onto'

Sources

1. h₂ent- (Proto-Indo-European) - Wiktionary

Updated August 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris