Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “outwill” come from?

outwill (English) comes from English Will, from English william, from Middle English William, from Anglo-Norman Willame, from Old High German Willahelm, from Old High German helm, from Proto-West Germanic helm, from Proto-Germanic helmaz — to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab.

outwill (English): To surpass in force of will

Definitions

  1. To surpass in force of will

Ancestry of “outwill”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishWillA weak-side linebacker
2Englishwilliam—
3Middle EnglishWilliam—
4Anglo-NormanWillame—
5Old High GermanWillahelmWilliam
6Old High Germanhelmhelmet
7Proto-West Germanichelmhelmet
8Proto-Germanichelmazhelmet
9Proto-Germanichalmazhalm; stem; stalk; straw; hay
10Proto-Indo-Europeanḱolh₂mosstalk
11Proto-Indo-Europeanḱelh₂-to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱelh₂- →