Where does “nøgleroman” come from?

nøgleroman (Danish) comes from Danish nøgle, from Old Norse hnykill, from Proto-Germanic hnukkaz, from Proto-Indo-European knewg-, from Proto-Indo-European ḱen- — to set oneself in motion, arise.

nøgleroman (Danish): roman à clef

Definitions

  1. roman à clef

Ancestry of “nøgleroman”, step by step

nøgleroman traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Danish nøgle

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Danishnøglekey; clef; ball
2Old Norsehnykillswelling
3Proto-Germanichnukkaz
4Proto-Indo-Europeanknewg-to turn, press; to bend, pinch; to press; bend
5Proto-Indo-Europeanḱen-to set oneself in motion, arise

via Danish roman

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1DanishromanA novel
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱen-Every word from Proto-Indo-European knewg-Every word from Proto-Germanic hnukkaz
nøgleroman — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer