Where does “Guinevere” come from?
Guinevere derives from Welsh Gwenhwyfar, from Proto-Brythonic Gwɨnnohuɨβar containing gwɨnn from Proto-Celtic windos, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European windo-.
Guinevere (English): The wife of King Arthur
Definitions
- The wife of King Arthur
Ancestry of “Guinevere”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | Gwenyver | Guinevere wife of King Arthur |
| 2 | Middle Welsh | Gwenhwyfar | — |
| 3 | Old Welsh | Guinhuimar | — |
| 4 | Proto-Brythonic | Gwɨnnohuɨβar | — |
| 5 | Proto-Brythonic | gwɨnn | white |
| 6 | Proto-Celtic | windos | white |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | windo- | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | weyd- | to see |