An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Wahn

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An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language, W (1891)
by Friedrich Kluge, translated by John Francis Davis
Wahn
Friedrich Kluge2507007An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language, W — Wahn1891John Francis Davis

Wahn, m. ‘illusion, delusion,’ from MidHG. and OHG. wân, m., ‘uncertain, unfounded opinion, supposition, belief, hoping, thoughts.’ The word (comp. Argwohn) did not originally contain the secondary meaning ‘want of foundation,’ as is shown by OSax. wân, AS. wên, Goth. wêns, ‘expectation, hope.’ Hence the derivative wähnen, ‘to think, believe, suppose,’ MidHG. wœnen, OHG. wânnen (from *wânjan), ‘to mean, suppose, hope,’ comp. the equiv. Goth. wênjan, AS. wênan, OSax. wânian. The nominal stem wêni is not related to any terms in non-Teut. (Aryan root ?, ghwê, ghê?), unless it be connected with the root wen, ‘to love,’ from which OHG. and OSax. wini, ‘friend,’ Sans. van, ‘to love,’ and Lat. venerari, ‘to venerate,’ are derived.