Where does “wei” come from?

wei (Middle English) comes from Middle English way, from Old English weġ, from Proto-West Germanic weg, from Proto-Germanic wēgaz, from Proto-Indo-European weǵʰ- — to bring; to transport.

wei (Middle English): Alternative spelling of way

Definitions

  1. Alternative spelling of way

Ancestry of “wei”, step by step

wei traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Middle English way

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishway
2Old Englishweġway; path; way, road, path
3Proto-West Germanicwegway, road
4Proto-Germanicwēgazwave; sea
5Proto-Indo-Europeanweǵʰ-to bring; to transport

via Old English

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishwoe
2Proto-West Germanicwaiwoe!, alas!
3Proto-Germanicwaiwoe! alas!
4Proto-Indo-Europeanwaioh!; woe!

via Old English

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old English
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weǵʰ-Every word from Proto-Germanic wēgazEvery word from Proto-West Germanic weg