Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “self-willed” come from?

self-willed (English) comes from English willed, 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 — to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab.

self-willed (English): Obstinate; strong-minded; unyielding to the...

Definitions

  1. Obstinate; strong-minded; unyielding to the...

Ancestry of “self-willed”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwilledHaving a document specifying inheritance; Having...
2EnglishWillA weak-side linebacker
3Englishwilliam—
4Middle EnglishWilliam—
5Anglo-NormanWillame—
6Old High GermanWillahelmWilliam
7Old High Germanhelmhelmet
8Proto-West Germanichelmhelmet
9Proto-Germanichelmazhelmet
10Proto-Germanichalmazhalm; stem; stalk; straw; hay
11Proto-Indo-Europeanḱolh₂mosstalk
12Proto-Indo-Europeanḱelh₂-to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab

Words derived from “self-willed”

  • self-willedly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱelh₂- →