Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “beguiling” come from?

Beguiling derives from English beguile, which combines English guile with the Middle English prefix be-, traced through Old English be- and bī to Frankish wigila, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₁epi and ki-.

beguiling (English): present participle of beguile; A beguilement;...

Definitions

  1. present participle of beguile; A beguilement;...

Ancestry of “beguiling”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbeguileTo deceive or delude; To charm, delight or...
2EnglishguileAstuteness often marked by a certain sense of...
3Middle Englishgilegill
4Anglo-Normangile—
5Old Frenchguiletrickery; deception
6Old Englishwīlwile, trick
7Proto-Germanicwīlącraft, deceit
8Proto-Indo-Europeanwéy-—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanéǵh₂I

Words derived from “beguiling”

  • beguilingly
  • beguilingness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European éǵh₂ →