Where does “half-witted” come from?
half-witted (English) comes from English half-, from Middle English half-, from Old English healf-, from Old English healf, from Proto-Germanic *halb, from Proto-Germanic halbaz, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kelH-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kel- — to bend, crook; bent, crooked; leg, heel, knee,...
half-witted (English): Having a low intelligence; dim-witted
Definitions
- Having a low intelligence; dim-witted
Ancestry of “half-witted”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | half- | half or partial; not complete; Used before... |
| 2 | Middle English | half- | — |
| 3 | Old English | healf- | half |
| 4 | Old English | healf | side; half; partly |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | *halb | — |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | halbaz | half |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)kelH- | to cut; to split, to separate |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)kel- | to bend, crook; bent, crooked; leg, heel, knee,... |