Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “unwilling” come from?

Unwilling traces through English willing and will to Proto-Indo-European h₂ent- meaning "to be" or "exist," combined with Proto-Indo-European ne meaning "not."

unwilling (English): Not willing; reluctant

Definitions

  1. Not willing; reluctant

Ancestry of “unwilling”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwillingReady to do something that is not a matter of...
2EnglishwillTo wish, desire; To wish or desire ; to intend;...
3Middle EnglishwullenAlternative form of wollen
4Old EnglishwyllanAlternative form of willan; will; to will, be...
5Old Englishwillanto want; to intend; to be willing
6Proto-West Germanicwilljanto want
7Proto-Germanicwiljanąto want
8Proto-Indo-Europeanwélyoyt—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanwélyeti—
10Proto-Indo-Europeanwelh₁-to choose; to want

Words derived from “unwilling”

  • unwillingness
  • unwillingly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European welh₁- →