Definition of the word seven

The origin of the word "seven" can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) language, which is considered the ancient ancestor of many modern European and Indian languages. In PIE, the number seven was represented by the root word "septm," which meant "to divide" or "to cut." As the PIE languages evolved, the meaning of the word "seven" changed slightly in different dialects. For example, in Old English (spoken around AD 450-1050), the word for seven was "sibben," which is said to have derived from the PIE root "septm" combined with a suffix meaning "entire." In Old Norse (spoken around AD 800-1300), the word for seven was "seven," a direct descendant of the PIE root "septm." In Old High German (spoken in the 6th to 9th centuries AD), the word for seven was "seben," also a direct descendant of "septm." The modern English word "seven" is however derived from the Old Norse word, as Old English borrowed the term from Old Norse when the two languages came into contact following the Viking invasions of England in the 9th century AD. Overall, the word "seven" represents an intriguing example of the ways in which words and language evolve over time, from their origins in ancient proto-languages to the modern-day terminology we use today.