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

  1. Alternative form of wif; plural of wif

Ancestry of “wive”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishwifwoman, female human; wife, female spouse; The...
2Old Englishwīfwife; woman, female, lady, wife; female
3Proto-West Germanicwībwoman; wife
4Proto-Germanicwībąwoman; wife
5Proto-Indo-Europeangʰwíh₂bʰ-shame, pudenda
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰwíh₂bʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic wībą →Every word from Proto-West Germanic wīb →