Where does “tværtimod” come from?
tværtimod (Danish) comes from Danish tvært, from Old Norse þvert, from Old Norse þverr, from Proto-Germanic þwerhaz, from Proto-Germanic þerh-, from Proto-Indo-European terkʷ- — to turn, spin.
tværtimod (Danish): on the contrary, au contraire
Definitions
- on the contrary, au contraire
Ancestry of “tværtimod”, step by step
tværtimod traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Danish tvært
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Danish | tvært | neuter singular of tvær; only in the phrases... |
| 2 | Old Norse | þvert | across, athwart |
| 3 | Old Norse | þverr | athwart, transverse; adverse, contrary; cross,... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | þwerhaz | cross, adverse |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | þerh- | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | terkʷ- | to turn, spin |
via Danish imod
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Danish | imod | against |