weigh
AI-assisted draft · not yet reviewed by an editor · How we check entries
Meaning
to have a specified weight when measured
to measure how heavy someone or something is, typically using scales
to assess the nature or importance of something, especially when making a decision
Usage
the package weighs just over two kilograms.
the grocer weighed the apples on the scale.
you must weigh the risks against the potential benefits.
Etymology
The verb "weigh" originates from the Old English "wegan," meaning "to carry, bear, move." This term is traced back to the Proto-Germanic "weganą," which carried the same sense of bearing a load. The semantic evolution from "to carry" to "to measure the heaviness of" is a natural progression, as the act of carrying inherently involves experiencing and assessing weight. This Germanic root is further connected to the Proto-Indo-European "weǵʰ-," meaning "to transport or draw a vehicle," linking the concept to movement and burden. Over time, the meaning specialized in English to focus on the measurement of mass against gravity, while the original sense of carrying branched off into the related word "way."
Analysis
This is a simplex word derived from a single Old English root. It is not productively segmentable into distinct morphemes in Modern English.