An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Verweis

by Friedrich Kluge

Verweis, masculine, ‘reprimand, censure,’ from the equivalent late Middle High German verwîȥ, masculine; allied to verweisen, from Middle High German verwîȥen, Old High German firwîȥan, strong verb, ‘to reprimand, censure.’ Compare Dutch verwijt, neuter, ‘reprimand,’ and verwijten, ‘to reproach, upbraid,’ Gothic fraweitan, ‘to revenge. The meaning ‘to punish ‘also belonged to the simple stem, as is shown by Old Saxon wîti, Old High German wîȥȥi (wîzzi), Middle High German wîȥe (wîtze), neuter, ‘punishment, tortures of hell.’ The Teutonic root wī̆t, ‘to punish,’ is based on the common Aryan root wid, ‘to see,’ on which are based Latin videre, Greek ἰδεῖν (for further cognates of this root see wissen); compare Gothic faírweitjan, ‘to look around,’ and witan, ‘to observe.’ The development of meaning is usually compared with that of Latin animadvertere, ‘to perceive, punish.’ Hence Verweis is not directly connected with weisen; to the latter verweisen, ‘to misdirect’ (obsolete), is allied. —