all-time

The compound adjective 'all-time' is a modern English formation built from two native Germanic elements. 'All' derives from the Proto-Germanic allaz, carrying the sense of "whole, entire," which can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root h₂el-, meaning "beyond." 'Time' originates from Proto-Germanic tīmô-, related to the concept of "stretch" or "extent," from the PIE root dā(i)-, "to divide, apportion." The literal combination, "entire time," logically evolved to signify a record, status, or extreme that surpasses any other within the entirety of recorded history or experience, thus denoting the ultimate or supreme example.

Structure: all (entire) + time (duration) all: From Old English eall, meaning "entire, whole, every." It functions as an intensifier in this compound, indicating completeness or totality. time: From Old English tīma, meaning "a period, season, era." It functions as the core noun, specifying the domain over which the completeness applies.