Where does “writhy” come from?

writhy (English) comes from English writhe, from Middle English writhen, from Old English wrīþan, from Old English wriþan, from Proto-West Germanic wrīþan, from Proto-Germanic wrīþaną, from Proto-Indo-European wreyt-, from Proto-Indo-European wer- — to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel.

writhy (English): Characterized by or prone to writhing

Definitions

  1. Characterized by or prone to writhing

Ancestry of “writhy”, step by step

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