Where does “dewa” come from?
dewa (Indonesian) comes from Malay dewa, from Sanskrit देव, from Proto-Indo-Iranian daywás, from Proto-Indo-European deywós, from Proto-Indo-European dyew- — to be bright; sky, heaven.
dewa (Indonesian): god; idol
Ancestry of “dewa”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Malay | dewa | god; idol |
| 2 | Sanskrit | देव | heavenly, divine, also said of terrestrial things... |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-Iranian | daywás | god |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | deywós | god |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | dyew- | to be bright; sky, heaven |