Where does “wive” come from?
wive (Middle English) comes from Middle English wif, from Old English wīf, from Proto-West Germanic wīb, from Proto-Germanic wībą, from Proto-Indo-European gʰwíh₂bʰ- — shame, pudenda.
wive (Middle English): Alternative form of wif; plural of wif
Definitions
- Alternative form of wif; plural of wif
Ancestry of “wive”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | wif | woman, female human; wife, female spouse; The... |
| 2 | Old English | wīf | wife; woman, female, lady, wife; female |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | wīb | woman; wife |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | wībą | woman; wife |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | gʰwíh₂bʰ- | shame, pudenda |