The word weder has multiple meanings in different languages. In Middle English, weder refers to the general condition of the atmosphere with respect to temperature, precipitation, cloudiness, and wind. It also means a particular element or kind of weather. In Old High German, weder or wedar means which of the two, and is related to the English word whether and the German word weder, both of which originally meant the same. In Alemannic German, weder can also mean except. In addition, weder can be a surname, derived from the Old English word meaning weed.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Original meaning in English and German | "Which of two" |
Modern meaning in German | "Neither" |
Middle English meaning | "Weather" |
Middle English meaning | "A person who removes weeds" |
Middle English meaning | "A tool for removing weeds" |
What You'll Learn
'Weder' means 'neither' in German
Weder means "neither" in German. The word is derived from Old High German "wedar", which meant "which of the two". This is also the original meaning of the word "whether" in English.
In Old High German, the negated form "niwedar" or "enweder" ("neither of the two") was used in combination with "noch". Over time, the negation prefix was dropped, as was the case with other German words such as "enweiß" ("don't know") and "enkann" ("am not able to").
In some Southwestern German dialects (Alemannic), "weder" can also mean "except", as in "des händ'r ällne gseit weddr mir" (you told it to everybody except me).
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'Weder' is a Middle English word meaning weather
Weder, or Wedere, is indeed a Middle English word meaning weather. The word is derived from the Old English "weder", which means "air, sky, breeze, storm, or tempest".
The Old English "weder" itself has Germanic roots, coming from the Proto-Germanic "*wedrą". The Proto-Germanic "d" sound in words like "weder" often changed to a "t" sound in German, which is why the German "Wetter" corresponds to the English "weather".
In Middle English, "weder" could also refer to a person or tool for removing weeds.
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'Weder' is an Old High German word meaning 'which of the two'
Weder, derived from Old High German, is a word with a rich linguistic history. Old High German (OHG) refers to the earliest stage of the German language, spanning from around 500/750 to 1050 CE. During this period, OHG encompassed various West Germanic dialects that had undergone significant consonantal changes known as the Second Sound Shift.
The word "weder" itself has its roots in the Old High German word "wedar," meaning "which of the two." This word can be traced further back to its origins in Proto-West Germanic ("*hwaþar"), Proto-Germanic ("*hwaþeraz"), and ultimately, Proto-Indo-European ("*kʷóteros"). Over time, this word evolved into different forms in various languages, including English "whether", Icelandic "hvor", and German "weder", where it means "neither."
In Old High German, the word "weder" was used in conjunction with "noch" (meaning "nor") to express a negative idea, similar to the English usage of "neither...nor." For example, "weder Himmel noch Hölle" translates to "neither heaven nor hell." This construction is comparable to the usage of English "either", which also stems from the same root as "weder," originally meaning "each of two."
The evolution of the word "weder" illustrates how language transforms over time, influenced by various linguistic and cultural factors. Its roots in Old High German provide a glimpse into the early stages of the German language and its connections to other Germanic and Indo-European languages.
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'Weder' is a surname, ranked #64721 in America
Weder is a surname that is ranked #64721 in America, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Weder surname appeared 307 times in the 2010 census, and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 would have the surname Weder. The name has origins in Germany and Switzerland, derived from the ancient Germanic personal name Withar, which is formed with 'witu' meaning wood or 'wīt' meaning far.
The Weder family name has been found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The highest number of Weder families was found in the USA in 1920, and in 1840, two Weder families were living in Pennsylvania—the highest population of Weders in that state at the time. In 1940, the top reported jobs for men named Weder were Laborer and Clerk, with 19% and 20% of Weder men and women working in these occupations, respectively.
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'Weder' is a Middle English word meaning a person or tool for removing weeds
Weder is a Middle English word dating back to 1400–1450. It refers to a person who removes weeds or the tool used for the same. The word is derived from the Old English 'wēod', which means weed, herb, or woad.
In Old High German, 'wedar' means 'which of the two', and is similar to the English word 'whether'. In Proto-Germanic, it is 'hwaþeraz', and in Proto-Indo-European, it is 'kʷóteros'.
The word 'weder' is also used to refer to the general condition of the atmosphere with respect to temperature, precipitation, cloudiness, and wind. It can also refer to a particular element or kind of weather, such as the sky, air, temperature, wind, or rain.
In modern usage, the word 'weed' refers to a plant considered undesirable, usually one that grows vigorously and chokes out other desirable plants. The concept of weeds is particularly significant in agriculture, where their presence can cause major losses in crop yields.
Weed control is important in agriculture and horticulture, and various methods are used to prevent, reduce, or stop their growth and reproduction. These methods include hand cultivation, powered cultivation, smothering with mulch, lethal wilting with high heat, burning, or chemical attack with herbicides.
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Frequently asked questions
"Weder" in Middle English means the general condition of the atmosphere with respect to temperature, precipitation, cloudiness, wind, etc.
In Old High German, "weder" means "which of the two".
In German, "weder" means "neither".
In Tagalog, "weder" means "weather".