An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Wesen

by Friedrich Kluge

Wesen, neuter, ‘being, creature, nature, disposition, manners,’ from Middle High German wësen, neuter, ‘sojourn, domestic affairs, manner of living, quality, situation.’ An infinit. used as a substantive; Middle High German wësen, Old High German wësan (to which the Modern High German preterite forms of the verb sein are allied), strong verb; corresponding to Gothic wisan, ‘to be, tarry, stay’ (Anglo-Saxon wësan; English was, belong to the sphere of grammar). The verbal rootves, ‘to be, abide,’ to which währen is allied, is found in non-Teutonic, in the Sanscrit root vas, ‘to stay, tarry, pass the night.’ — Allied to wesentlich adjective, ‘essential,’ from the equivalent Middle High German wësentîch (wësenlîch); the t is excrescent.