adj.
'wily'
(Modern English wily)Formed on wyles.
PGmc Ancestor
(1) *wīl-; (2) wīgel-; (4) ?*wihl
Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)
(4) vél (n.) ‘wile, device, trick’
(ONP (4) vél (1) (sb.))
Other Scandinavian Reflexes
(4) Far væl, Icel vél, Norw vēl, MSw väl
OE Cognate
Phonological and morphological markers
Summary category
DD1
Less frequent than the n., but also widespread by the 14; its only earlier attestation is in the S a1275(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Trin-C B.14.39).
Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus
Gaw 1728, 1905