Where does “wrong” come from?
Wrong derives from Middle English wrong, from Old English wrang, from Old Norse rangr, from Proto-Germanic wrangaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European wer-.
wrong (English): Incorrect or untrue; Asserting something...
Definitions
- Incorrect or untrue; Asserting something...
Ancestry of “wrong”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | wrong | A wrong, injustice; A wrong, evil, wrongdoing,... |
| 2 | Old English | wrang | wrong, injustice; rough, uneven |
| 3 | Old Norse | rangr | unjust |
| 4 | Old Norse | wrangr | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | wrangaz | twisted, warped, bent, crooked, wry; wretched,... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | werḱ- | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | wer- | to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel |