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

vague traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old French vague

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

via Latin vagus

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinvaguswandering, rambling, strolling; uncertain, vague
2Proto-Italicwagos—
3Proto-Indo-EuropeanHwogos—

Words derived from “vague”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European weǵʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic wēgaz →Every word from Old Norse vágr →