Etymology Explorer › Old Saxon

Where does “willian” come from?

willian (Old Saxon) comes from Proto-West Germanic willjan, from Proto-Germanic wiljaną, from Proto-Indo-European wélyoyt, from Proto-Indo-European wélyeti, from Proto-Indo-European welh₁- — to choose; to want.

willian (Old Saxon): to want

Definitions

  1. to want

Ancestry of “willian”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-West Germanicwilljanto want
2Proto-Germanicwiljanąto want
3Proto-Indo-Europeanwélyoyt—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanwélyeti—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanwelh₁-to choose; to want

Words derived from “willian”

  • willen
  • wüllen
Every word from Proto-Indo-European welh₁- →