Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “loathest” come from?

loathest (English) comes from English loath, from Middle English lōth, from Middle English wite, from Old English wīte, from Proto-West Germanic wītī, from Proto-Germanic witją, from Proto-Germanic *witaną, from Proto-Indo-European wóyde — to see.

loathest (English): superlative form of loath: most loath;...

Definitions

  1. superlative form of loath: most loath;...

Ancestry of “loathest”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishloathAverse, disinclined; reluctant, unwilling; Angry,...
2Middle Englishlōthdispleasing, hateful, unpleasant; horrible,...
3Middle Englishwiteguilt, blameworthiness, blame, wrongdoing,...
4Old Englishwītepenalty; punishment, pain, torment
5Proto-West Germanicwītīpunishment
6Proto-Germanicwitjąknowledge; reason; sense; understanding; wit
7Proto-Germanic*witaną—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanwóydeto have seen, to know
9Proto-Indo-Europeanweyd-to see
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weyd- →