twist
/twɪst/
verb
Origin
Proto-Germanic
twis- — two, twofold
Overview
Meaning Now
- To rotate, wind, or turn something in a spiral or circular motion.
- To distort or force out of a natural shape or state.
Literal older meaning
to divide into two or twine
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Old English → English
Earliest form
twisten
Earliest period
13th century
Journey
The word stems from the Germanic concept of 'two', as twisting often involved taking two strands and winding them around one another to form a stronger cord.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*twis-
“twofold”
Root sense relating to dividing something into two.
- Middle English
twisten
“to twine together, to wring”
Used to describe twisting fibers or threads.
Connections
Word parts
twist
root
rotate or wind
Related across languages
Dutch
twisten
to quarrel, to dispute
German
zwirnen
to twine or twist
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Related to twist
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.