Where does “åndssvag” come from?

åndssvag (Danish) comes from Danish svag, from Middle Low German swak, from Old Saxon swak, from Proto-West Germanic swak, from Proto-Indo-European swe(n)g-.

åndssvag (Danish): mentally retarded; ridiculous, dumb, retarded

Definitions

  1. mentally retarded; ridiculous, dumb, retarded

Ancestry of “åndssvag”, step by step

åndssvag traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Danish svag

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Danishsvagweak; lacking in force or ability
2Middle Low Germanswakweak
3Old Saxonswak
4Proto-West Germanicswakswinging; swaying; yielding easily; pliable; weak
5Proto-Indo-Europeanswe(n)g-

via Danish ånd

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Danishåndspirit, mind; ghost; imperative of ånde
2Old Norseǫndduck; breath; soul
3Proto-Germanicanadôbreath; spirit; zeal
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂enh₁‑to breathe

Words derived from “åndssvag

Every word from Proto-Indo-European swe(n)g-Every word from Proto-West Germanic swakEvery word from Old Saxon swak