An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Wittib

by Friedrich Kluge

Wittib (with a normal b), Witwe, f., ‘widow,’ from the equiv. MidHG. witewe, witwe, OHG. wituwa (witawa), f.; common to Teut. and Aryan. Comp. Goth. widuwô, OSax. widowa, Du. weduwe, AS. wuduwe, widewe, E. widow. Corresponding to Ir. fedb, Lat. vidua, San. vidhávâ, OSlov. vĭdova. The primit. Aryan form widhéwâ (widhowâ), f., ‘widow,’ implied in these words seems to be an old formation from an Aryan root widh, Sans. root vidh, ‘to become empty, be faulty’; comp. Gr. ἠίθεος, ‘single, unmarried.’ The designations for Witwer, ‘widower,’ are recent derivatives of the feminine form (comp. Schwieger); comp. OHG. wituwo, MidHG. witwœre, from which a new fem. could be ultimately formed (MidHG. witwerinne); comp. ModHG. Witmann (hence Witfrau). ModHG. Waise, ‘orphan,’ is perhaps connected with the same Aryan root widh.