Online Etymology Dictionary: Weird File Under Literature

Online Etymology Dictionary: Weird File under “Literature”

weird O.E. wyrd "fate, destiny" (n.), lit. "that which comes," from P.Gmc. *wurthis (cf. O.S. wurd, O.H.G. wurt "fate," O.N. urðr "fate, one of the three Norns"), from PIE *wert- "to turn, wind," (cf. Ger. werden, O.E. weorðan "to become"), from root *wer- "to turn, bend" (see versus). For sense development from "turning" to "becoming," cf. phrase turn into "become." The modern sense of weird developed from M.E. use of weird sisters for the three fates or Norns (in Germanic mythology), the goddesses who controlled human destiny. They were usually portrayed as odd or frightening in appearance, as in "Macbeth," which led to the adj. meaning "odd-looking, uncanny," first recorded 1815. weirdo "strange person," 1955, from weird. Cf. earlier Scot. weirdie (1894). wyrd see weird. unearthly (adj.) 1610s, "heavenly, sublime," from un- (1) "not" + earthly. Sense of "ghostly, weird" first recorded 1802. Related: Unearthlines

gonzo (adj.) 1971, American English, in Hunter S. Thompson's phrase gonzo journalism. Thompson in 1972 said he got it from editor Bill Cardosa and explained it as "some Boston word for weird, bizarre." Probably from It. gonzo "rude, sottish," perhaps from Sp. ganso and ultimately from the Germanic word for "goose." hag (n.) early 13c., "ugly old woman," probably a shortening of O.E. hægtesse "witch, fury" (on assumption that -tesse was a suffix), from P.Gmc. *hagatusjon-, of unknown origin. Similar shortening produced Du. heks, Ger. Hexe "witch" from cognate M.Du. haghetisse, O.H.G. hagzusa. First element is probably cognate with O.E. haga "enclosure, portion of woodland marked off for cutting" (see hedge). O.N. had tunriða and O.H.G. zunritha, both lit. "hedge-rider," used of witches and ghosts. Second element may be connected with Norw. tysja "fairy; crippled woman," Gaul. dusius "demon," Lith. dvasia "spirit," from PIE *dhewes- "to fly about, smoke, be scattered, vanish."

One of the magic words for which there is no male form, suggesting its original meaning was close to "diviner, soothsayer," which were always female in northern European paganism, and hægtesse seem at one time to have meant "woman of prophetic and oracular powers" (Ælfric uses it to render the Greek "pythoness," the voice of the Delphic oracle), a figure greatly feared and respected. Later, the word was used of village wise women.

Haga is also the haw- in hawthorn, which is an important tree in northern European pagan religion. There may be several layers of folk etymology here. Confusion or blending with heathenish is suggested by Middle English hæhtis, hægtis "hag, witch, fury, etc.," and haetnesse "goddess," used of Minerva and Diana. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php? allowed_in_frame=0&search=weird&searchmode=none

Your Task: 1. How is the later entry for “Hag” related to the primary entry in question, “Weird”? 2. What are the Germanic roots and suffixes associated with “Wyrd”, and what are their meanings? Online Etymology Dictionary: Weird File under “Literature”

3. Research and provide sources for your understanding of the Norns. 4. Using the chart below and your Atlas reading, explain the cultural and military scenario that led to the two specific language systems in usage during AD 400-500. Trace the origin of the English language to its root, then identify the root.