English
ween
Ween comes from Old English wēnan ‘to expect (+ genitive)’, and goes back to Proto-Germanic *wēniz.
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*wēniz‘hope, expectation’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*wēnijaną‘to hope, to expect’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150wēnan‘to expect (+ genitive)’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500wenen
- Englishearliest quotation 1481ween
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*wēniz‘hope, expectation’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*wēnijaną‘to hope, to expect’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150wēnan‘to expect (+ genitive)’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500wenen
- Englishearliest quotation 1481ween
Earliest quotation: 1481, Author unknown: “And when they will fight they will shock them…”
Linked words
through Middle English wenen
Today it means
verb To suppose, imagine; to think, believe.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Germanic *wēniz / ween