Where does “werm” come from?
werm (Middle English) comes from Old English wyrm, from Old English lēah, from Proto-West Germanic lauh, from Proto-Germanic lauhaz, from Proto-Indo-European lówkos, from Proto-Indo-European lewḱ-, from Proto-Indo-European lewk- — bright; to shine; to see.
werm (Middle English): Alternative form of worm
Definitions
- Alternative form of worm
Ancestry of “werm”, step by step
werm traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Old English wyrm
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | wyrm | creeping insect; maggot, grub, worm; snake,... |
| 2 | Old English | lēah | meadow; clearing with a pigsty; woodland,... |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | lauh | clearing; meadow |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | lauhaz | clearing; meadow |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | lówkos | clearing; open space, clearing; field, meadow |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | lewḱ- | lynx |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | lewk- | bright; to shine; to see |
via Old English wearm
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | wearm | warm |
| 2 | Proto-West Germanic | warm | warm |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | warmaz | warm |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷʰer- | warm, hot |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷʰe-gʷʰór-e ~ gʷʰe-gʷʰr-ḗr | — |