Etymology

From Middle Dutch writen, from Old Dutch *wrītan, from Proto-Germanic *wrītaną.

This verb originally meant 'to scratch, carve'. In west Germanic languages, its meaning started varying following the different dialects. While Old English and Old Saxon kept its meaning 'to carve' and then evolved it into 'to write', Old Dutch, Old Frisian and Old High German kept its 1st meaning 'to scratch' and then evolved it. In Middle Dutch, the verb meant 'to turn, shave, plane' (of wood, as performed by turners) and then gave its modern Dutch meaning 'to argue, quarrel, have a split, strike'. In Dutch, it is no longer current.

The verb should not be confused with rijten ‎(“to rip, to tear”), which ultimately comes from proto-Germanic *hrītan. In German, the verbs descended from *hrītan and *wrītan merged into one: reißen.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈvrɛi̯tə(n)/
• Rhymes: -ɛi̯tən