Etymology Explorer › Old English

Where does “wyrnan” come from?

wyrnan (Old English) comes from Proto-West Germanic warnijan, from Proto-Germanic warnijaną, from Proto-Indo-European wēr-, from Proto-Indo-European wer- — to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel.

wyrnan (Old English): Alternative form of wiernan; to refuse, reject

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of wiernan; to refuse, reject

Ancestry of “wyrnan”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-West Germanicwarnijanto refuse; to deny
2Proto-Germanicwarnijanąto care, worry; to worry, care, heed; to worry,...
3Proto-Indo-Europeanwēr-true
4Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel

Words derived from “wyrnan”

  • wernen
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wer- →