An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/vier

by Friedrich Kluge

vier, num., ‘four,’ from the equiv. MidHG. vier, OHG. fior; corresponding to OSax. fiwar, Du. vier, AS. feower, feówer, E. four; the AS. variant fyðer- (in compounds) points, like the corresponding Goth. fidwôr ( fidur-), to a primary form detwor, petur, for qetwor, qetur. The latter forms show that Teut. vier is connected with Lat. quattuor, Gr. τέσσαρες (πίσυρες), Sans. catur, OSlov. četyri, ‘four.’ The common Aryan qetur-, ktru-, is also indicated by ModHG. Raute (from hrûdô-, equiv. to krû-tā́, lit. ‘quaternity.’ —