wain– {wagon}: wain, wainwright || 
OE wægn : wagon Gmc root wagna–
wald– {power, to rule}: Oswald ●Walter ●same as ald– || Gmc root wealdan or waldan to be strong, to have power, to rule
war– {to be aware, to be watchful}: aware, beware, ware [to beware of], wary ●see also ware– || OE wær : to be watchful, to be aware
ward–1 {to protect, to guard}: Edward, Howard, steward, ward, wardroom ●see also war–, ward–2, ware– || OE weard : keeper, guard 
weardian : to protect, to guard
ward–2 {to guard}: warden, warder, wardrobe ●see also guard– || ME wardein : to guard NormFr OFr garder : to guard Gmc wardon
ware– {wares, goods, merchandise}: chinaware, earthenware, glassware, hardware, silverware, software, warehouse, wares ●see also war– || OE waru : merchandise, protection the sense of “watching over the wares”
wh– {interrogatives}: what, when, whence, where, whether, which, whither, who, whom, whose, why ●how ●compare h–, th– || IE *kwo– : interrogative and relative pronouns L qual, quant, quid, quo, etc.
whal– {whale}: narwhal, whale ●walrus || ON hvalr : whale
wich–, wick– {village}: bailiwick, Brunswick, Greenwich, Ipswich, Norwich, Sandwich || OE wic OE wik; akin to OHG wich : village
wick– ●see wich–
wid– {to separate}: widow, widower || ME widwe OE widewe, akin to Ger. witwe : widow
wild– {wild}: bewilder, wild, wildcat, wildebeest, wilderness, wildfire, wildflower, wildlife || ME wilde OE
wil(l)– {to wish, to choose}: Wilbert, Wilfred, Wilhelm, will, willful, William, willing, will-o’-the-wisp, willpower, willy-nilly, Wilma, Wilson || ME wille OE willa : will
win– {friend}: Baldwin, Edwin, Erwin, Godwin, Irwin ●same as vin–2 || OE wine : friend Gmc root weniz
wit–1 {powers of thinking and reasoning, intellectual powers}: nitwit, outwit, slow-witted, wit (at wit’s end, keep one’s wits), witticism, witty || OE wit : the mind, powers of thinking
wit–2 {to know, to have knowledge, to be wise}: unwitting, wit (…to wit), witan, witenagomet, witness || OE witan : to know
wor– {value, worth}: worship, worth, worthwhile, worthy || OE weorthan : worth, value
wr– {to turn, to bend, to twist}: wrangle, wrap, wrath, wreath, wreathe, wrench, wrest, wrestle, wriggle, wring, wrinkle, wrist, writhe, wrong, wroth, wry || various roots, all ult. IE *wer– : to turn
wright– {to work, worker}: cartwright, shipwright, wainwright, wheelwright, wright ●wrought || OE wyrhta : worker, maker wyrcan : to work. wrought worgt, pp. of weorken wyrcan : to work
wurst– {sausage}: bratwurst, knackwurst, liverwurst || Ger wurst : sausage OHG
* Unattested, hypothesized
† Unknown origin
20 entries found.
Copyright © 2004–07 Daniel M. Short. All Rights Reserved.
