Where does “weinen” come from?

weinen (Middle English) comes from Old English wānian, from Proto-Germanic wainōną, from Proto-Indo-European wáy, from Proto-Indo-European uwáy — to see oneself.

weinen (Middle English): to wail, lament

Definitions

  1. to wail, lament

Ancestry of “weinen”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishwānianto complain, lament; to bewail, lament
2Proto-Germanicwainōnąto cry, to lament, to grieve
3Proto-Indo-Europeanwáyoh!; ah!; woe!
4Proto-Indo-Europeanuwáyto see oneself
Every word from Proto-Indo-European uwáy →Every word from Proto-Indo-European wáy →Every word from Proto-Germanic wainōną →