unwieldy etymology

Etymology:

• Old English: unwieldy
• Proto-Germanic: *unwaldigaz
• Proto-Indo-European: *uel- ("to turn") + *-i- (noun suffix)

Meaning:

Difficult to wield or handle; cumbersome.

Origin:

The word "unwieldy" originally referred to something that was not easy to use or control, particularly in the context of weapons. It was formed from the Old English prefix "un-" (meaning "not") and the noun "wieldy" (meaning "easy to wield"). The noun "wieldy" in turn comes from the Proto-Germanic root *waldigaz, which is related to the verb "to wield." This root is ultimately derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *uel-, which means "to turn" or "to move."

Over time, the meaning of "unwieldy" has broadened to include anything that is difficult to handle or manage due to its size, weight, or complexity. It is often used to describe physical objects, but can also be applied to abstract concepts and situations.

unwieldy relate terms

• wield

  Etymology Old English wealdan wealda Proto Germanic waldaną Proto Indo European w

• clumsy

  Etymology The word clumsy is derived from the Middle English word clomsed which mea

• ungainly

  Etymology Origin Middle English ungaynly c 1300 Meaning clumsy or unwieldy D

• hulk

  Etymology The word Hulk has several etymological origins Middle English hulke m

• jumbo

  Etymology Jumbo Originated from the name of an African elephant imported to the United

• rhetoric

  Etymology The word rhetoric comes from the Greek word rhētorikē derived from rhē

• divine

  Etymology The word divine comes from the Latin word divus meaning god or godlike

• milk

  Etymology The word milk comes from the Proto Indo European root melg meaning to mil

• serendipity

  Etymology The word serendipity comes from the Persian fairy tale The Three Princes of

• penthouse

  Etymology Penthouse is derived from the Middle English word pentiz or pentise which