Dutch word wachten comes from Proto-Indo-European *weǵ-, and later Proto-Germanic *wahtwō (Watch, vigil.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *weǵ- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | to be fresh, be cheerful, be awake, to be awake, be fresh or cheerful, to be strong, be awake, be fresh, be cheerful, to be awake, be fresh, be cheerful, to be fresh, cheerful, awake, lively, to be strong |
| *wahtwō | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Watch, vigil. |
| *wahta | Frankish (frk) | Watch, guard duty. Watchtower, lookout. |
| *wahtwijaną | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | To keep watch. |
| wahta | Old Dutch (odt) | |
| *wahtōn | Frankish (frk) | To keep watch. To lie in wait, ambush. To watch, guard. |
| *wahton | Old Dutch (odt) | |
| wachten | Middle Dutch (dum) | To guard, to be on guard. To guard, to protect. To observe, to respect (a rule). To wait. |
| wachten | Dutch (nld) | (intransitive) to wait [+ op (object) = for]. |