Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “witherweight” come from?

witherweight (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.

witherweight (English): A counterbalancing weight; counterweight

Definitions

  1. A counterbalancing weight; counterweight

Ancestry of “witherweight”, step by step

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
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wi →