Where does “writhen” come from?

writhen (Middle English) comes from Old English wrīþan, from Old English wriþan, from Proto-West Germanic wrīþan, from Proto-Germanic wrīþaną, from Proto-Indo-European wreyt-, from Proto-Indo-European wer- — to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel.

writhen (Middle English): To form or make into a curve or bend; to make...

Definitions

  1. To form or make into a curve or bend; to make...

Ancestry of “writhen”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishwrīþanto twist
2Old Englishwriþanto twist; to bewrap; to bind
3Proto-West Germanicwrīþanto weave, to twist
4Proto-Germanicwrīþanąto weave, to twist
5Proto-Indo-Europeanwreyt-to twist
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel

Words derived from “writhen”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European wer- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European wreyt- →Every word from Proto-Germanic wrīþaną →
writhen — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer