Where does “wileful” come from?
wileful (English) comes from English Wile, from Middle English wile, from Old English wīl, from Proto-Germanic wīlą, from Proto-Indo-European wéy-, from Proto-Indo-European éǵh₂ — I.
wileful (English): Full of wiles; deceitful
Definitions
- Full of wiles; deceitful
Ancestry of “wileful”, step by step
wileful traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Wile
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Wile | A trick or stratagem practiced for ensnaring or deception; a sly, insidious artifice |
| 2 | Middle English | wile | wile, trick, artifice; a sorcerer |
| 3 | Old English | wīl | wile, trick |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | wīlą | craft, deceit |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | wéy- | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | éǵh₂ | I |
via English ful
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | ful | — |