Where does “weak” come from?

Weak comes from Middle English weik, Old English wēoce, Proto-Germanic waikwaz, and Proto-Indo-European roots weg-, weyk-, and wey-, ultimately referring to bending or yielding.

weak (English): Lacking in force or ability; Unable to sustain a...

Definitions

  1. Lacking in force or ability; Unable to sustain a...

Ancestry of “weak”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishwekeweek; workweek; A candlewick or wick
2Old Norsevǫkvamoisture, humidity; to moisten, water
3Old Norsevǫkrmoist, wet
4Proto-Germanicwakwazwet, moist
5Proto-Indo-Europeanwegʷ-wet, moist

Words derived from “weak

Every word from Proto-Indo-European wegʷ-