Where does “atwist” come from?

atwist (English) comes from English A, from English AND, from Middle English and, from Old English and, from Proto-Germanic andi, from Proto-Indo-European h₂énti, from Proto-Indo-European h₂énts, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ent- — on, onto.

atwist (English): Twisted; distorted; awry

Definitions

  1. Twisted; distorted; awry

Ancestry of “atwist”, step by step

atwist traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English A

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishAThe ordinal number first, derived from this...
2EnglishANDAlternative form of ∧, the conjunction operator;...
3Middle Englishandand, and then; however, yet, but, though. while;...
4Old Englishandand; even; also
5Proto-Germanicandiin addition, furthermore, and
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éntiopposite; near; in front
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éntsforehead; front
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ent-face; forehead; front
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂en-on, onto

via English Twist

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishTwistA twisting force
2Middle EnglishtwistThe flat part of a hinge (less specifically the entire hinge)
3Old Englishtwist
4Proto-Germanictwistaz
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂en-Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂ent-Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂énts