Where does “bewilderment” come from?
Bewilderment comes from English bewilder, from English wilder, from English wild, from English weald, from Latin mens, from Proto-Indo-European méntis and Proto-Indo-European wel-.
bewilderment (English): The state of being bewildered; A confusing or...
Definitions
- The state of being bewildered; A confusing or...
Ancestry of “bewilderment”, step by step
bewilderment traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English bewilder
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | bewilder | To confuse, disorientate, or puzzle someone,... |
| 2 | English | wilder | To bewilder, perplex; comparative form of wild:... |
| 3 | English | wild | Untamed; not domesticated; specifically, in an... |
| 4 | Middle English | wild | — |
| 5 | Old English | wilde | wild, savage |
| 6 | Proto-West Germanic | wilþī | wild |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | wilþijaz | wild |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂welh₁- | to rule; strong, powerful; hair; wool |