Where does “willowherb” come from?
willowherb (English) comes from English Willow, from Middle English wilwe, from Old English weliġ, from Proto-West Germanic wilig, from Proto-Germanic wiligaz, from Proto-Indo-European weliḱ-, from Proto-Indo-European wēl- — to see, perceive.
willowherb (English): Any of several flowering plants in the genus...
Definitions
- Any of several flowering plants in the genus...
Ancestry of “willowherb”, step by step
willowherb traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Willow
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Willow | of modern usage |
| 2 | Middle English | wilwe | willow |
| 3 | Old English | weliġ | well-to-do, prosperous, rich; willow |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | wilig | willow |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | wiligaz | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | weliḱ- | willow |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | wēl- | to see, perceive |
via English Herb
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Herb | A plant whose stem is not woody and does not persist beyond each growing season |
| 2 | Middle English | herbe | A herbaceous plant |
| 3 | Old French | erbe | grass; herb |
| 4 | Latin | herba | grass, herbage; herb; weeds |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰreh₁- | to become green, grow; to grow; to green, to grow |