Etymology Explorer › Dutch

Where does “verkleining” come from?

verkleining (Dutch) comes from Dutch verkleinen, from Dutch klein, from Middle Dutch cleine, from Old Dutch cleini, from Proto-West Germanic *klainī, from Proto-Germanic klainiz, from Proto-Indo-European g(e)lēi-, from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- — to swallow; swallow.

verkleining (Dutch): reduction; diminutive formation; belittlement

Definitions

  1. reduction; diminutive formation; belittlement

Ancestry of “verkleining”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchverkleinenreduce, make smaller; diminish, minimize;...
2Dutchkleinsmall, little; almost
3Middle Dutchcleinesmall; short; unimportant
4Old Dutchcleinismall
5Proto-West Germanic*klainī—
6Proto-Germanicklainizshining, fine, splendid; tender, precious
7Proto-Indo-Europeang(e)lēi-gleaming
8Proto-Indo-Europeanǵel-to swallow; swallow
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- →