Where does “writhing” come from?

Writhing derives from Old English writhan via the -ing suffix, tracing to Proto-Germanic wrīþaną and ultimately Proto-Indo-European wer-, meaning to turn or twist.

writhing (English): Bended in twisting struggle; present participle...

Definitions

  1. Bended in twisting struggle; present participle...

Ancestry of “writhing”, step by step

writhing traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English writhe

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwritheTo twist, to wring; To contort; To twist or...
2Middle EnglishwrithenTo form or make into a curve or bend; to make...
3Old Englishwrīþanto twist
4Old Englishwriþanto twist; to bewrap; to bind
5Proto-West Germanicwrīþanto weave, to twist
6Proto-Germanicwrīþanąto weave, to twist
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwreyt-to twist
8Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel

via Middle English writhyng

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishwrithyngThe process of bending, curling, or twining; A...
2Middle English-yngeAlternative form of -ing
3Old English-ungforming nouns from verbs, denoting verbal action...
4Proto-Germanic-ungō-ing, -ion. "Forms gerund nouns from verbs."

Words derived from “writhing”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European wer- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European wreyt- →Every word from Proto-Germanic wrīþaną →