Where does “weakling” come from?
Weakling derives from Middle English -ling added to Old English wēoce, from Proto-Germanic waikwaz meaning pliant or bending, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots wey- and -lós.
weakling (English): weak, either physically, morally or mentally; A...
Definitions
- weak, either physically, morally or mentally; A...
Ancestry of “weakling”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | -ling | small, immature, miniature; follower or resident;... |
| 2 | Middle English | -ling | — |
| 3 | Old English | -ling | adverbial suffix denoting direction, state or... |
| 4 | Old English | lang | long; lasting; old, ancient; advanced |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | lang | long |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | langaz | long |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | dlongʰos | long |