Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “wile” come from?

While comes from Old English hwīl, from Proto-West Germanic hwīlu, from Proto-Germanic hwīlō, from Proto-Indo-European kʷyeh₁-, of uncertain ultimate meaning.

wile (English): A trick or stratagem practiced for ensnaring or...

Definitions

  1. A trick or stratagem practiced for ensnaring or...

Ancestry of “wile”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwhileAn uncertain duration of time, a period of time;...
2EnglishworthwhileGood and important enough to spend time, effort,...
3EnglishworthHaving a value of; proper to be exchanged for;...
4Middle Englishworthto become
5Old Englishweorþworth, deserving; honoured, esteemed; worth,...
6Proto-Germanicwerþazworthy, valuable
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwert-to turn, to rotate
8Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel

Words derived from “wile”

  • wileful
  • outwile
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wer- →