Where does “stairwise” come from?

stairwise (English) comes from English wise, from Middle English wys, from Old English wīs, from Proto-Germanic wīsaz, from Proto-Indo-European weydstos, from Proto-Indo-European weyd- — to see.

stairwise (English): In the manner of a set of stairs; rising in...

Definitions

  1. In the manner of a set of stairs; rising in...

Ancestry of “stairwise”, step by step

stairwise traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English wise

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwiseShowing good judgement or the benefit of...
2Middle Englishwyswise, thoughtful, proper; knowledgeable; alert,...
3Old Englishwīswise
4Proto-Germanicwīsazwise, knowledgeable
5Proto-Indo-Europeanweydstosknowledgeable
6Proto-Indo-Europeanweyd-to see

via English stair

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishstairA single step in a staircase; A series of steps;...
2Middle Englishsteirestaircase, stairs; stair, step; ladder
3Old Englishstǣġerstair, staircase
4Proto-Germanicstaigrizscaffold, platform; stairs
5Proto-Indo-Europeansteyǵʰ-to go
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weyd- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European weydstos →Every word from Proto-Germanic wīsaz →