Woo
/wuː/noun
To seek another person’s love, marriage, support, or favor.
Did you know?By the sixteenth century, “woo” had expanded beyond courtship to mean trying to win allies, customers, voters, or almost anyone’s approval.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*weǵʰ-
“To move, go, or transport”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*wōgijaną
“To woo or seek someone’s favor; the precise development is connected with an older Germanic movement root”
Old English
Old English
wōgian
“To woo; to seek to marry”
Middle English
Middle English
wowen
“To court or seek in marriage”
16th Century
English
woo
“To seek love, marriage, or favor”
Modern English
English
woo
“To court romantically or try to win support, business, or approval”