Where does “witchiness” come from?
witchiness (English) comes from English witchy, from English Witch, from Middle English wicche, from Old English wiċċe, from Proto-Germanic wikkōną, from Proto-Indo-European wik-néh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European weyk-, from Proto-Indo-European wey- — to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;...
witchiness (English): The quality of being witchy
Definitions
- The quality of being witchy
Ancestry of “witchiness”, step by step
witchiness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English witchy
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | witchy | Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of witches;... |
| 2 | 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 |
| 3 | Middle English | wicche | witch, wizard, sorceror; pagan, heretic,... |
| 4 | Old English | wiċċe | (female) witch |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | wikkōną | to practice sorcery |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | wik-néh₂- | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | weyk- | to separate, to choose; to contain, to envelop;... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | wey- | to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;... |
via English Ness
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Ness | An Ulster princess and the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa and Findchoem in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Daughter of Eochaid Sálbuide. Also the mother of Cormac Cond Longas by incest with Conchobar mac Nessa |
| 2 | Middle English | nesse | — |
| 3 | Old English | næs | not, not at all; not; first/third-person singular... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | nasją | foothill; headland; cape |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | néh₂s | nose |