Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “witchweed” come from?

witchweed (English) comes 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;...

witchweed (English): Any of several flowering plants of the genus...

Definitions

  1. Any of several flowering plants of the genus...

Ancestry of “witchweed”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwitchA person who practices witchcraft; An ugly or...
2Middle Englishwicchewitch, wizard, sorceror; pagan, heretic,...
3Old Englishwiċċewitch , sorceress; witch ,sorceress
4Proto-Germanicwikkōnąto practice sorcery
5Proto-Indo-Europeanwik-néh₂-—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanweyk-to separate, to choose; to contain, to envelop;...
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwey-to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wey- →