Where does “whinen” come from?

whinen (Middle English) comes from Old English hwīnan, from Proto-West Germanic hwīnan, from Proto-Germanic hwīnaną, from Proto-Indo-European ḱwey- — to hiss, to whistle, to whisper; to shine, white,...

whinen (Middle English): Alternative form of whynen; to whine

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of whynen; to whine

Ancestry of “whinen”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishhwīnanto rush, to whizz, to squeal, to whine
2Proto-West Germanichwīnanto whine
3Proto-Germanichwīnanąto rush, make a rushing sound, whizz, hiss,...
4Proto-Indo-Europeanḱwey-to hiss, to whistle, to whisper; to shine, white,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱwey- →Every word from Proto-Germanic hwīnaną →Every word from Proto-West Germanic hwīnan →