An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Verweis

by Friedrich Kluge

Verweis, m., ‘reprimand, censure,’ from the equiv. late MidHG. verwîȥ, m.; allied to verweisen, from MidHG. verwîȥen, OHG. firwîȥan, str. vb., ‘to reprimand, censure.’ Comp. Du. verwijt, n., ‘reprimand,’ and verwijten, ‘to reproach, upbraid,’ Goth. fraweitan, ‘to revenge. The meaning ‘to punish ‘also belonged to the simple stem, as is shown by OSax. wîti, OHG. wîȥȥi (wîzzi), MidHG. wîȥe (wîtze), n., ‘punishment, tortures of hell.’ The Teut. root wī̆t, ‘to punish,’ is based on the common Aryan root wid, ‘to see,’ on which are based Lat. videre, Gr. ἰδεῖν (for further cognates of this root see wissen); comp. Goth. faírweitjan, ‘to look around,’ and witan, ‘to observe.’ The development of meaning is usually compared with that of Lat. animadvertere, ‘to perceive, punish.’ Hence Verweis is not directly connected with weisen; to the latter verweisen, ‘to misdirect’ (obsolete), is allied. —