Where does “vis” come from?

Vis comes from Latin vis, derived from Proto-Indo-European gʷelH-, a root also reflected in Latin viola and connected to Proto-Indo-European weyh₁- and welh₁-.

vis (English): Force; energy; might; power; Abbreviation of...

Definitions

  1. Force; energy; might; power; Abbreviation of...

Ancestry of “vis”, step by step

vis traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Serbo-Croatian vis

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Serbo-Croatianvisheight; summit
2ItalianLissa
3LatinIssa
4Ancient GreekἼσσαexclamation of malicious triumph over another's distress

via Latin vīs

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinvīsforce
2Proto-Italicwīsstrength, force, power
3Proto-Indo-Europeanwéyh₁sforce, vehemence
4Proto-Indo-Europeanweyh₁-to chase, pursue; to suppress, persecute

via Tamil வீசை

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tamilவீசை
Every word from Ancient Greek ἼσσαEvery word from Latin IssaEvery word from Italian Lissa