Where does “widen” come from?

Widen comes from Middle English -en, Old English -en, Proto-Germanic jainaz, and Proto-Indo-European roots wī-, dʰeh₁-, and dwóh₁ meaning to make or become broad or extended in space.

widen (English): To become wide or wider; To make wide or wider;...

Definitions

  1. To become wide or wider; To make wide or wider;...

Ancestry of “widen”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwideHaving a large physical extent from side to side;...
2Old Englishwīdwide, vast, broad, long; distant, far
3Proto-Germanicwīdazwide; broad
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁weydʰh₁osset apart, asunder, in two
5Proto-Indo-Europeandwi-two; apart, asunder
6Proto-Indo-Europeandwóh₁two

Words derived from “widen”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European dwóh₁ →Every word from Proto-Indo-European dwi- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁weydʰh₁os →
widen — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer