LL-L "Etymology" 2004.12.02 (10) [E]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 02.DEC.2004 (10) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) N=Northumbrian
S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic V=(West)Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
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From: Carl Witzel <cwitzjr at msn.com>
Subject: "Etymology"

Hello

I am hoping to gain some opinions on any connection between the etymology of
the German phrase _Der Weise_, meaning 'Of the Way', 'Of the Manner', 'sage,
wise man, philosopher', and any earlier forms of _widu_, OSaxon for trees,
wilderness.

The Oxford English Dictionary describes:

E: _Wise_: OE: _wís_, OFris: OS, OHG, MLG, MDu, MHG: _wîs_, Du: _wijs_, G:
_weis_, ON: _víss_, Sw, Da,

_vis_, Gothic: _weis_, OTeut: _wWsaz_, pre-Teut: _wWttos_, Indo-Eur:
_weid-_, OHG: _wîsi_, MHG: _wîse_, G: _weise_.

Related to:
E: _wit_, OFris: _wit_, OS,(M)LG: _wit_, OHG: _wizzi_, MHG: _witz(e)_, G:
_witz_, ON: _vit_, Swedish: _vet_, Danish: _vid_, Gothic: _un-witi_

Only in MHG do the two seem to relate:
E: _wood_, OE: _widu_, _wiodu_, later _wudu_, OHG: _witu_, _wito_, MHG:
_wite_, _wit_, ON: _viðr_, Sw, Da: _ved_, OTeut: _widuz_ = tree, wood,
_widu_ = trees.

I see no relationship, but some researchers state that _witz_ derives from
_widu_.  Could the word for wood have once meant anything like 'wise'?
Could _widu_ have meant 'holy' in any way?  Does _witz_ derive in any way
from _widu_, _witu_?

Thanks for any thoughts.

Carl Witzel

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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Etymology

Hi, Carl!

Isn't German _Witz_ related to English "wit" (also _witzig_ = "witty"), and
doesn't all this go back to the idea of 'to know' (e.g., E "to wit," G
wissen, LS weten, etc.)?

This is related to Sanskrit वेद _veda_ 'knowledge' (as in "the Vedas,"
scriptures of Hinduism, the Indian medical "ayurveda" [< आयुर्वेद āyurveda
"life knowledge"]), and िवन्दात _vindāti_ 'knows'.  Also note Sanscit िवज
_vija_ 'wise' and िवमनस् _vimanas_ 'very wise'.

Indo-European: *_woid-_

"Wise" etc. goes back to Indo-European *_weid-_.

I often wonder if this group of words is related to those of 'to see'; e.g.,
Slavonic *_vidĕti_ 'to see', *_vĕdĕti_ 'to know', Romance *_vīd-_ 'to see',
Greek εἰδέναι 'to know',  ἰδει̑ν 'to see'.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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