Where does “wisdom tooth” come from?
wisdom tooth (English) comes from English wisdom, from Middle English wisdom, from Old English wīsdōm, from Proto-Germanic wīsadōmaz, from Proto-Germanic wīsaz, from Proto-Indo-European weydstos, from Proto-Indo-European weyd- — to see.
wisdom tooth (English): One of the four (one upper and one lower on each side) rearmost molars in humans, which typically develop between ages 18-24
Definitions
- One of the four (one upper and one lower on each side) rearmost molars in humans, which typically develop between ages 18-24
Ancestry of “wisdom tooth”, step by step
wisdom tooth traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via English wisdom
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | wisdom | An element of personal character that enables one... |
| 2 | Middle English | wisdom | wisdom |
| 3 | Old English | wīsdōm | wisdom |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | wīsadōmaz | wise judgement, wisdom |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | wīsaz | wise, knowledgeable |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | weydstos | knowledgeable |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | weyd- | to see |
via English tooth
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | tooth | A hard, calcareous structure present in the mouth... |
| 2 | Middle English | toth | Alternative form of tothe |
| 3 | Old English | tōþ | tooth |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | tanþs | tooth |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃dónts | tooth |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁ed- | to eat |
via Latin dens sapientiae
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | dens sapientiae | — |