Where does “wight” come from?
Wight comes from Middle English wight, from Old English wiht, from Proto-Germanic wihtiz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots weǵʰ-, wekʷ-, and weyk- meaning to move or turn.
wight (English): A living creature, especially a human being; A...
Definitions
- A living creature, especially a human being; A...
Ancestry of “wight”, step by step
wight traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English wight
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | wight | A creature, a being; A person, a human being; A... |
| 2 | Old English | wiht | creature, person, thing, being; weight |
| 3 | Latin | Vectis | Isle of Wight |
| 4 | Proto-Celtic | wextā | time, course, turn |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | weǵʰ- | to bring; to transport |
via Middle English wiȝt
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | wiȝt | — |