Off
/ɒf/noun
Away from a place, position, or state; not operating or active.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from the same old Germanic root as English “of,” so the everyday idea of being “off” is historically tied to separation and removal rather than modern electronics.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*apo
“away from, off”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*ab
“off, away”
Old English
OE
of
“from, away from”
Middle English
English
off
“away, away from”
Modern English
English
off
“not on; away; inactive”