Where does “witherless” come from?

witherless (English) comes from English wither, from Middle English wither, 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.

witherless (English): That does not wither or dry up

Definitions

  1. That does not wither or dry up

Ancestry of “witherless”, step by step

witherless traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English wither

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwitherTo shrivel, droop or dry up, especially from lack...
2Middle Englishwither
3Old Englishwiþertoward, against; again, against; against, in...
4Proto-West Germanicwiþrtoward, against
5Proto-Germanicwiþrątoward, against
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwī-tero-further apart
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwiapart, asunder; away from, against

via English less

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlessTo a smaller extent or degree; comparative form...
2Middle Englishlesfalse; lying; deceptive; falsehood; a lie
3Old Englishlēasfalse, lax; false, void, loose; devoid of, loose...
4Proto-Germanic*laus
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wi
witherless — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer