Where does “witcher” come from?
witcher (English) comes from English with, from Middle English wiþ, from Old English wiþ, from Old English wiþer, from Proto-West Germanic wiþr, from Proto-Germanic wiþrą, from Proto-Indo-European wī-tero-, from Proto-Indo-European wi — apart, asunder; away from, against.
witcher (English): A dowser
Definitions
- A dowser
Ancestry of “witcher”, step by step
witcher traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via English with
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | with | Against; In the company of; alongside, close to;... |
| 2 | Middle English | wiþ | with |
| 3 | Old English | wiþ | against, opposite; along, towards; with |
| 4 | Old English | wiþer | toward, against; again, against; against, in... |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | wiþr | toward, against |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | wiþrą | toward, against |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | wī-tero- | further apart |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | wi | apart, asunder; away from, against |
via English your
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | your | Belonging to you; of you; related to you; A... |
| 2 | Middle English | your | Alternative form of youre |
| 3 | Old English | ēower | your plural |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | iuwar | your, yours, of you |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | izweraz | your; 2nd person plural possessive |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | jūz | you |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | yū́ | you |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | túh₂ | you, thou |
via English Witch
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Witch | A person (now usually particularly a woman) who uses magical or similar supernatural powers to influence or predict events, particularly one with malicious motives |
| 2 | Middle English | wicche | witch, wizard, sorceror; pagan, heretic,... |
| 3 | Old English | wiċċe | (female) witch |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | wikkōną | to practice sorcery |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | wik-néh₂- | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | weyk- | to separate, to choose; to contain, to envelop;... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | wey- | to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;... |