Re: Wyrd (was [tied] Green)

From: Piotr Gasiorowski
Message: 18271
Date: 2003-01-29

----- Original Message -----
From: <jdcroft@...>
To: <cybalist@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2003 2:22 AM
Subject: Wyrd (was [tied] Green)


> Piotr, is there any connection of this construction [Gmc. *wurt- 'root, plant'] with the Anglo Saxon *wyrd?

No need to asterisk it; it's the actual OE word. No, it isn't related. It's a derivative of the important Germanic verb *werþ- (OE weorþan, wearþ, wurdon, ge-worden, Ger. werden) 'turn, become', and the etymological meaning is 'the power that makes things happen, fate'. The IE source is *wert- 'turn', a very widespread root (cf. Lat verto:, vortex).

Piotr