Etymology Explorer › Middle French

Where does “vague” come from?

vague (Middle French) comes from Old French vague, from Old Norse vágr, from Proto-Germanic wēgaz, from Proto-Indo-European weǵʰ- — to bring; to transport.

Ancestry of “vague”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchvaguemovement on the surface of a liquid, ripple
2Old Norsevágrocean, sea; inlet, bay
3Proto-Germanicwēgazwave; sea
4Proto-Indo-Europeanweǵʰ-to bring; to transport

Words derived from “vague”

  • vague
  • vaguely
  • vagueness
  • nonvague
  • vaguery
  • vaguish
  • vaguer
  • vagueish
  • unvague
  • nonvagueness
  • vaguement
  • vague
  • svaga
  • svage
  • vaag
  • vaagtaal
  • vag
  • vag
  • vag
  • vage
  • vag
  • vag
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weǵʰ- →