Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “wieldy” come from?

wieldy (English) comes from Middle English weldy, from Middle English welden, from Old English wieldan, from Old English wealdan, from Germanic *waldan, from Proto-Germanic waldaną, from Proto-Indo-European waldʰ- — to be strong, be powerful, prevail, possess.

wieldy (English): Able to wield one's body well; active, dexterous;...

Definitions

  1. Able to wield one's body well; active, dexterous;...

Ancestry of “wieldy”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishweldyagile, vigorous; of a shield: easy or satisfying...
2Middle Englishweldento reign, rule, command; Alternative form of...
3Old Englishwieldanto control; to possess power or authority over;...
4Old Englishwealdanto control; to wield; to rule
5Germanic*waldan—
6Proto-Germanicwaldanąto rule
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwaldʰ-to be strong, be powerful, prevail, possess

Words derived from “wieldy”

  • wieldiness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European waldʰ- →