Middle English word eschewen comes from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ḱew-, Proto-Germanic *skeuhaz, Proto-Germanic *skiuhaną, Proto-Germanic *skiuhwijaną, and later Frankish *skiuhan (To dread, avoid. To shun.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *(s)ḱew- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | to heed, look, feel, take note of, to bend, arch, bow |
| *skeuhaz | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Abominable; odious; loathsome; vile. Frightened. Shy; timid; bashful; coy; reserved; cautious. |
| *skiuhaną | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | |
| *skiuhwijaną | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | |
| *skiuhijaną | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | |
| *sciuhan | Frankish (frk) | |
| *skiuhan | Frankish (frk) | To dread, avoid. To shun. |
| eschiver | Anglo-Norman (xno) | |
| eschivre | Old French (fro) | |
| eschewen | Middle English (enm) |