An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/wenig

by Friedrich Kluge

wenig, adjective, ‘little, few,’ from Middle High German wênec, weinec (g), Old High German wênag weinag, adjective. As a derivative of the Teutonic root wai (see weh and weinen), the adjective signified primarily in Old High German and Middle High German ‘deplorable, lamentable, unfortunate’ (so too Gothic wainags); from ‘unfortunate,’ the Middle High German ‘weak, small, trifling, little’ is derived.