Where does “death wish” come from?

death wish (English) comes from English death, from Middle English deth, from Old English dēaþ, from Old English wīc, from German witz, from Middle High German witz, from Old High German wizzi, from Proto-West Germanic wītī — to see.

death wish (English): A desire, especially subconscious, for the death...

Definitions

  1. A desire, especially subconscious, for the death...

Ancestry of “death wish”, step by step

death wish traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English death

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdeathThe cessation of life and all associated...
2Middle EnglishdethAlternative form of deeth
3Old Englishdēaþdeath
4Old Englishwīcdwelling place, abode; abode, dwelling-place;...
5Germanwitzjoke
6Middle High Germanwitz
7Old High Germanwizzi
8Proto-West Germanicwītīpunishment
9Proto-Germanicwitjąknowledge; reason; sense; understanding; wit
10Proto-Germanic*witaną
11Proto-Indo-Europeanwóydeto have seen, to know
12Proto-Indo-Europeanweyd-to see

via English wish

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwishA desire, hope, or longing for something or for...
2Middle EnglishfischAn animal that inhabits the water or the meat of...
3Old Englishfisċfish
4Proto-West Germanicfiskfish
5Proto-Germanicfiskazfish
6Indo-European*peysk-
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weyd-Every word from Proto-Indo-European wóydeEvery word from Proto-Germanic *witaną