Middle English word greithe comes from Proto-Indo-European *were-, Proto-Indo-European *h₂rey-, Proto-Germanic *garaidiją, and later Proto-Germanic *raidaz (Ready, arranged, prepared.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *were- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *h₂rey- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *garaidiją | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | |
| *wreyt- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | to turn, twist |
| *raidaz | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Ready, arranged, prepared. |
| greiði | Old Norse (non) | |
| *wrīþaną | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | To weave, to twist. |
| *wraiþaz | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Cruel. Extremely angry, furious, wroth. Twisted, bent out of shape, anxious. |
| vreiðr | Old Norse (non) | Angry, wroth. |
| graythe | Middle English (enm) |