Where does “魔” come from?
魔 (Chinese) comes from Middle Chinese 魔羅, from Sanskrit मार, from Proto-Indo-Iranian mā́ras, from Proto-Indo-European mór-os, from Proto-Indo-European mer- — to die; to disappear; sea, lake, wetland.
Ancestry of “魔”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle Chinese | 魔羅 | — |
| 2 | Sanskrit | मार | killing, destroying; death, pestilence; slaying,... |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-Iranian | mā́ras | — |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | mór-os | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | mer- | to die; to disappear; sea, lake, wetland |