English
thwarten
Thwarten comes from Middle English thwertenen.
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500thwertenen
- Englishearliest quotation 1967thwarten
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500thwertenen
- Englishearliest quotation 1967thwarten
Earliest quotation: 1967, International Quarterly Journal Devoted : “It is e.g. frivolous — and in the longer…”
Formed from thwart + -en
Proto-Indo-European *terkʷ- ‘to turn, spin’
Old Norse þvert ‘strong neuter nominative/accusative singular…’
Middle English thwerte
English thwart
Every English word from Middle English thwertenen
Today it means
verb To be positioned contrary to; be set against; oppose; hinder
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle English thwertenen / thwarten