watch etymology

Etymology:

• Old English "wacian," from Proto-Germanic "*wakōjan," meaning "to be awake, to keep vigil."

Meaning:

• To observe or monitor something attentively, typically for a period of time.
• To pay close attention to something.
• To monitor the time.

Origin:

The word "watch" has Germanic roots and can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic "*wakōjan," which means "to be awake, to keep vigil." This sense of wakefulness and alertness is reflected in the various meanings of the word in English.

The earliest attested form of "watch" in Old English is "wacian," which meant "to be watchful, to keep awake." This word was used in a legal context to refer to the duty of a person to keep watch and ward over a property or area.

Over time, the meaning of "watch" expanded to include the idea of observing or monitoring something attentively. This sense of the word is first attested in the 13th century. By the 16th century, "watch" had also acquired the meaning of "to monitor the time," as in "to watch the clock."

Today, "watch" is a common word with a wide range of meanings. It is used in contexts as diverse as security, surveillance, timekeeping, and entertainment.

watch relate terms

• wake

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

• awake

  Etymology Old English awacian from Proto Germanic awakōną from Proto Indo European

• awaken

  Etymology The word awaken derives from the Middle English word awaken which origina

• waken

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

• clock watcher

  Etymology Clock Middle English clokke from Old English clucge meaning bell or

• clock

  Etymology Middle English clokke from Old English clucge Germanic origin Proto German

• watch

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

• hour

  Etymology The word hour comes from the Latin word hora which means hour time seas

• view

  Etymology The word etymology is derived from the Greek words etymon true meaning an

• vigil

  Etymology of Vigil The word vigil comes from the Latin word vigilia which means wat

• observe

  Etymology refers to the study of the origin and development of words It can be used to tr

• surveillance

  Etymology Old French surveiller Latin super above over vigilare to watch ke

• reward

  Etymology Middle English rewarde from Anglo French rewarde reward from Old French r

• protest

  Etymology The word protest comes from the Late Latin word protestari meaning to bea

• stem winder

  Etymology The term stem winder is derived from two words Stem The small protrudin

• proctor

  Etymology Old French procurëour Latin procurātor agent manager trustee pro