Proto-Germanic:
* *wunskijan: "to desire, wish"
Old English:
* wynscian: "to desire, wish"
Middle English:
* wischen: "to wish"
Modern English:
* wish: "to desire, hope for, express a desire"
Etymology:
The word "wish" ultimately derives from the Proto-Germanic verb "*wunskijan," which meant "to desire, wish." This verb evolved into the Old English "wynscian" and later into the Middle English "wischen." Over time, the "ch" sound at the end of the word disappeared, giving us the modern English "wish."
Interesting Note:
The related word "want" also shares a similar origin, stemming from the Proto-Germanic word "*wantōn." This suggests that the concepts of desire, longing, and wishing have been deeply ingrained in the Germanic languages for a very long time.
So, the next time you wish upon a star, remember that you are using a word with a rich history dating back centuries!