wine
/waɪn/
noun
Origin
Latin
vinum — wine
Overview
Meaning Now
- An alcoholic beverage made from the fermented juice of grapes.
- The fermented juice of other fruits or plants, used as a beverage.
Literal older meaning
fermented grape juice
Language path
Proto-Indo-European → Proto-Italic → Latin → Proto-West Germanic → Old English → English
Earliest form
wīn
Earliest period
Old English
Journey
The word reached Germanic languages via early trade with the Roman Empire. The term reflects the deep cultural integration of Mediterranean viticulture into Northern European society during the Roman era.
Evolution
- Proto-Indo-European
*wéyno-
“wine”
Reconstructed root.
- Latin
vīnum
“wine”
- Proto-Germanic
*wīnan
“wine”
Early Germanic loan from Latin.
- Old English
wīn
“wine”
- Modern English
wine
“fermented grape beverage”
Connections
Word parts
wine
root
fermented grape juice
Related across languages
Latin
vīnum
wine
German
Wein
wine
Old Church Slavonic
vino
wine
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.