Where does “week” come from?

week (Middle English) comes from Middle English weke, from Old Norse vǫkva, from Old Norse vǫkr, from Proto-Germanic wakwaz, from Proto-Indo-European wegʷ- — wet, moist.

week (Middle English): Alternative form of weke

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of weke

Ancestry of “week”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishwekeweek; workweek; A candlewick or wick
2Old Norsevǫkvamoisture, humidity; to moisten, water
3Old Norsevǫkrmoist, wet
4Proto-Germanicwakwazwet, moist
5Proto-Indo-Europeanwegʷ-wet, moist
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wegʷ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic wakwaz →Every word from Old Norse vǫkr →