Where does “genmæle” come from?
genmæle (Danish) comes from Danish mæle, from Old Danish mælæ, from Old Norse mæla, from Old Norse mál, from Proto-Germanic mēlą, from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.
genmæle (Danish): right of reply
Definitions
- right of reply
Ancestry of “genmæle”, step by step
genmæle traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Danish mæle
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Danish | mæle | speech, voice; utter |
| 2 | Old Danish | mælæ | — |
| 3 | Old Norse | mæla | to speak |
| 4 | Old Norse | mál | language; speech; matter, affair |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | mēlą | measure, measurement; time, occasion; point in... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | melh₂- | to grind, to crush |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | mel- | soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | mey- | to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange |
via Danish gen
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Danish | gen | gene; imperative of genne |
| 2 | Danish | bruge | To use |
| 3 | Middle Low German | brūken | to use, utilise, to make use of either an object or a right |
| 4 | Old Saxon | brūkan | to enjoy, to make use of |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | brūkan | to use, to employ; to consume |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | brūkaną | to make use of, employ, use, consume |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰruHg- | to make use of; have enjoyment of |