An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/wagen

by Friedrich Kluge

wagen, vb., ‘to venture, risk,’ fro MidHG. wâgen, wk. vb., ‘to hazard, venture,’ lit. ‘to put in the scales’ MidHG. wâge, f., ‘balance,’ also means ‘uncertain result’; the word is unknown to ModHG. in this sense.