Where does “wreathwise” come from?

wreathwise (English) comes from English wreath, from Middle English wreth, from Old English *wreoþa, from West Germanic *wriþō, from Germanic *wriþô, from Proto-Indo-European wreyt-, from Proto-Indo-European wer- — to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel.

wreathwise (English): In the manner of a wreath; arranged like a wreath

Definitions

  1. In the manner of a wreath; arranged like a wreath

Ancestry of “wreathwise”, step by step

wreathwise traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English wreath

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwreathSomething twisted, intertwined, or curled; An...
2Middle Englishwreth—
3Old English*wreoþa—
4West Germanic*wriþō—
5Germanic*wriþô—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwreyt-to twist
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel

via English wise

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwiseShowing good judgement or the benefit of...
2Middle Englishwyswise, thoughtful, proper; knowledgeable; alert,...
3Old Englishwīswise
4Proto-Germanicwīsazwise, knowledgeable
5Proto-Indo-Europeanweydstosknowledgeable
6Proto-Indo-Europeanweyd-to see
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wer- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European wreyt- →Every word from Germanic *wriþô →
wreathwise — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer