Behind
/bɪˈhaɪnd/noun
At or to the rear of something; later than or in support of.
Did you know?Behind comes from Old English *behindan*, built from *be* (“by, near”) + *hindan* (“from the rear”), and its deep root is tied to the same ancient source as **hind** and **hindmost**—words of backness, retreat, and what’s left unseen.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*k̑en-
“to be behind, on the far side”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*hindan
“from behind, in the rear”
Old English
OE
behindan
“behind, at the rear of”
Middle English
ME
behinde
“behind; in the rear of”
Modern English
English
behind
“at or to the rear of something; later than; in support of”
Explore more surprising origins