*an^²

From the Proto-Indo-European local particle *h₂en-, probably through an extended local/allative adverb *h₂en-o ~ *h₂en-ó, though the exact formation underlying Proto-Germanic *an ~ *ana is disputed. Kroonen (2013: 26) derives Proto-Germanic @ana*ana from *h₂en-h̥₂, with vocalization of final *h̥₂ to *a; the resulting vowel was subsequently lost in simplex forms in individual Germanic languages but preserved in compounds and sometimes analogically restored. On the other hand, Dunkel (2014: 50–54) reconstructs *áno, without the initial laryngeal, and van Beek (2018: 47 n. 33) considers *h₂en-o possible. Compare Proto-Indo-Iranian *Haná, continued by Avestan 𐬀𐬥𐬀 (ana), as well as Ancient Greek ἀνά (aná) and Proto-Italic *ana, though the Greek and Italic forms can alternatively be derived from *h₂en-(e)h₂ (de Vaan 2008: 36;Dunkel 2014: 50–54).