Английский Этимологический словарь - see (v.)

- O.E. seon (contracted class V strong verb; past tense seah, pp. sewen), from P.Gmc. *sekhwanan, from PIE base *sekw-, which is "probably" the same base that produced words for "say" in Greek and Latin, and also words for "follow" (cf. L. sequor), but "opinions differ in regard to the semantic starting-point and sequences." [Buck] Thus see could originally mean "follow with the eyes." Used in M.E. to mean "behold in the imagination or in a dream," and also "to learn by reading" and "to recognize the force of (a demonstration)," "often with ref. to metaphorical light or eyes." [O.E.D.] Past tense saw developed from O.E. pl. sawon. Sense of "escort" (to see someone home) first recorded 1607 in Shakespeare. Gambling sense of "equal a bet" is from 1599. See you as a casual farewell first attested 1891. See-through (adj.) first attested 1950.