An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/weinen

by Friedrich Kluge

weinen, vb., ‘to weep, cry,’ from the equiv. MidHG. weinen, OHG. weinôn; comp. Du. weenen, AS. wânian, OIc. veina, ‘to weep.’ Probably a derivative of the Teut. interj. wai (see weh); hence weinen, lit. ‘to lament’ (the origin of the word would be similar to that of ächzen). It is also possible that Goth. qainôn, ‘to weep, is based in the other dialects on wai, ‘woe.’