Where does “awen” come from?

awen (Middle English) comes from Middle Welsh auwyn, from Proto-Brythonic *aβuɨn, from Latin habēna, from Latin habeō, from Proto-Italic habēō, from Proto-Indo-European gʰh₁bʰ- — to grab, to take; to grab, take.

awen (Middle English): To scare, horrify; To revere

Definitions

  1. To scare, horrify; To revere

Ancestry of “awen”, step by step

awen traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Middle Welsh auwyn

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Welshauwyn
2Proto-Brythonic*aβuɨnbridle, rein
3Latinhabēnathong, strap; shoestrings, shoelaces
4Latinhabeōto have, hold
5Proto-Italichabēō
6Proto-Indo-Europeangʰh₁bʰ-to grab, to take; to grab, take

via French aven

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchavenpit cave, pit natural cave with predominantly vertical shafts
2Occitanavenc
3Gaulishabonāriver
4Proto-Celticabūriver
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ep-water, body of water

via Middle English awe

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishaweAlternative form of ewe; awe, wonder, reverence;...
2Old Norseagiawe, terror; uproar, turbulence; discipline,...
3Proto-Germanicagazfear; dread
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂égʰosdistress
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂egʰ-to be upset, afraid

Words derived from “awen

Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰh₁bʰ-
awen — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer