Where does “waste” come from?
waste (Middle English) comes from Old English wǣst, from Proto-Germanic wahstuz, from Indo-European *h₂weks-.
waste (Middle English): a waste; waste
Definitions
- a waste; waste
Ancestry of “waste”, step by step
waste traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via Old English wǣst
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | wǣst | — |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | wahstuz | size, growth |
| 3 | Indo-European | *h₂weks- | — |
via Old Northern French wast
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old Northern French | wast | waste |
via Old English wǣxt
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | wǣxt | — |