Etymology Explorer › Old English

Where does “-weard” come from?

-weard (Old English) comes from Proto-Germanic wardaz, from Proto-Germanic werþaz, from Proto-Indo-European wert-, from Proto-Indo-European wer- — to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel.

-weard (Old English): Forming adjectives and nouns from adjectives or...

Definitions

  1. Forming adjectives and nouns from adjectives or...

Ancestry of “-weard”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Germanicwardazturned; turned toward; facing; Alternative form...
2Proto-Germanicwerþazworthy, valuable
3Proto-Indo-Europeanwert-to turn, to rotate
4Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel

Words derived from “-weard”

  • forward
  • afterward
  • downward
  • straightforward
  • awkward
  • onward
  • onwards
  • northward
  • southward
  • forwards
  • downwards
  • awkwardly
  • forwarding
  • wayward
  • awkwardness
  • windward
  • inwards
  • leeward
  • northwards
  • henceforward
  • southwards
  • skyward
  • eastwards
  • heavenward
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wer- →