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
- Lacking in force or ability; Unable to sustain a...
Ancestry of “weak”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | weke | week; workweek; A candlewick or wick |
| 2 | Old Norse | vǫkva | moisture, humidity; to moisten, water |
| 3 | Old Norse | vǫkr | moist, wet |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | wakwaz | wet, moist |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | wegʷ- | wet, moist |
Words derived from “weak”