waft etymology

Etymology

• Middle English wayfen, wafen, from Old English wafian "to wave, move to and fro in the air".
• The word is related to Middle Dutch waven, German wehen, and Old Norse veifa "to wave, flutter".
• Ultimately from Proto-Germanic waibōną, a derivative of the root *wai-, meaning "to blow".

Meaning

• Verb: to move gently to and fro in the air; flutter or wave.
• Noun: a gentle movement or wave of something, especially of air or fragrance.

Origin

The origin of the word waft can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic period, around the 1st century CE. The Proto-Germanic word *waibōną, meaning "to blow", likely referred to the gentle movement of air or wind. Over time, the word evolved in meaning to include the more general sense of "to move gently to and fro".

In Old English, the word wafian was used to describe the movement of waves, flags, or other objects in the air. It also had a figurative sense, referring to the gentle movement of emotions or feelings.

The word waft entered the English language in the Middle Ages, and it has retained its original meaning to this day. It is often used to describe the gentle movement of air or fragrance, or to convey a sense of lightness or delicacy.

waft relate terms

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• waft

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• awake

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• bewitch

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• bivouac

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• invigilate

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• reveille

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• surveillance

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• vedette

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• vegetable

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• velocity

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• vigil

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• vigilant

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• vigilante

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• vigor

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• waft

  Etymology Middle English wayfen wafen from Old English wafian to wave move to and fr

• wait

  Etymology Old English wæht Proto Germanic wahti Proto Indo European weh t woh t

• wake

  Etymology The word wake has Old English roots wæcce noun a nocturnal vigil

• waken

  Etymology The word waken is derived from the Old English word wacian which means t

• watch

  Etymology Old English wacian from Proto Germanic wakōjan meaning to be awake

• Wicca

  Etymology The word Wicca is derived from the Old English word wicca meaning witch

• wicked

  Etymology The word wicked is derived from the Old English word wicca which originall

• witch

  Etymology The word witch comes from the Old English word wicce which meant female s

• pennant

  Pennant Etymology Middle French pennon diminutive of penon small banner from Vulga

• pennon

  Etymology Middle English penoun from Old French penon from Late Latin pennonem a di

• flag

  Etymology Old English fleg ge masc floga fem meaning cloth piece of clot

• float

  Etymology French flotter to float Latin fluctuare to move in waves Proto Indo Euro

• aloft

  Etymology Old English aloft in the air on high From Proto Germanic aluft in the

• blow

  Etymology The word blow comes from the Middle English word blowe which in turn comes

• bowl

  Etymology The word bowl comes from the Middle English word bolle which is derived fr

• drift

  Etymology The word drift comes from the Middle English word drifen which means to

• waken

  Etymology The word waken is derived from the Old English word wacian which means t