Etymograph

English

indeed

Indeed comes from Middle English indede, a univerbation of the phrase in dede ‘in fact’.

  1. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500indede1
  2. Englishearliest quotation 1879indeed1

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

  1. 1 Wiktionary, English indeed
  2. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1879, Richard Jefferies, London: Smith: “Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded…”.

Lineage

  1. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500indedeWiktionary, English indeed
  2. Englishearliest quotation 1879indeedWiktionary, English indeed. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1879, Richard Jefferies, London: Smith: “Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded…”

first attested First attested in the early 14ᵗʰ century (as stated in Wiktionary’s etymology)

The story

First attested in the early 14ᵗʰ century.

Full etymology on Wiktionary

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Today it means

adv Synonym of actually or truly.

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “indeed”. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.

Etymograph / Middle English indede / indeed