Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “unwillable” come from?

unwillable (English) comes from English willable, 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.

unwillable (English): Not willable

Definitions

  1. Not willable

Ancestry of “unwillable”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwillableCapable of being willed
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
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱelh₂- →