Where does “whine” come from?
Whine comes from Middle English hwinen, from Old English hwīnan, from Proto-Germanic hwīnaną, from Proto-Indo-European ḱwey-.
whine (English): a long-drawn, high-pitched complaining cry or...
Definitions
- a long-drawn, high-pitched complaining cry or...
Ancestry of “whine”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | whynen | To cry out in distress or sadness; to make sad... |
| 2 | Old English | hwīnan | to rush, to whizz, to squeal, to whine |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | hwīnan | to whine |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | hwīnaną | to rush, make a rushing sound, whizz, hiss,... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱwey- | to hiss, to whistle, to whisper; to shine, white,... |