'dwell' originates from Old English 'dwellan' (or 'dwellan'), from Proto-Germanic '*dwel-' meaning 'to linger, delay'.

'dwellan' changed into Middle English 'dwellen' and eventually became the modern English word 'dwell'.

Initially it meant 'to linger, delay, or hesitate', and over time it came to mean 'to remain in a place' (to live or reside) and, figuratively, 'to linger in thought' (to keep thinking about something).