Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “biweekly” come from?

Biweekly comes from English bi- combined with week, where bi- derives from Latin bis meaning twice, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European dwóh₁ meaning two.

biweekly (English): Occurring once every two weeks; Occurring twice a...

Definitions

  1. Occurring once every two weeks; Occurring twice a...

Ancestry of “biweekly”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishweekAny period of seven consecutive days; A period of...
2Middle EnglishwykeAlternative form of wikke; Alternative form of...
3Old Englishwīcdwelling place, abode; abode, dwelling-place;...
4Germanwitz—
5Middle High Germanwitz—
6Old High Germanwizzi—
7Proto-West Germanicwītīpunishment
8Proto-Germanicwitjąknowledge; reason; sense; understanding; wit
9Proto-Germanic*witaną—
10Proto-Indo-Europeanwóydeto have seen, to know
11Proto-Indo-Europeanweyd-to see
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weyd- →