Where does “sweifen” come from?
sweifen (Middle High German) comes from Old High German sweifan, from Proto-West Germanic swaipan, from Proto-Germanic swaipaną, from Proto-Indo-European kswoybʰ-e-ti, from Proto-Indo-European ksweybʰ- — to move swiftly, make a swift movement; to swing,...
Ancestry of “sweifen”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old High German | sweifan | to wind |
| 2 | Proto-West Germanic | swaipan | to sweep |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | swaipaną | to sweep; to sway, swing; to cast, fling |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | kswoybʰ-e-ti | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | ksweybʰ- | to move swiftly, make a swift movement; to swing,... |