Where does “way” come from?
Way derives from Old English weġ, from Proto-Germanic wēgō, from Proto-Indo-European weǵʰ-, ultimately connected to the root meaning to move or convey.
way (English): "To do with a place or places."; A method or...
Definitions
- "To do with a place or places."; A method or...
Ancestry of “way”, step by step
way traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English way
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | way | — |
| 2 | Old English | weġ | way; path; way, road, path |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | weg | way, road |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | wēgaz | wave; sea |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | weǵʰ- | to bring; to transport |
via Middle English wey
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | wey | Alternative form of whey |