Where does “übermensch” come from?
übermensch (English) comes from German Übermensch, from German mensch, from Middle High German mensche, from Old High German mennisko, from Proto-West Germanic *mannisk, from Proto-Germanic manniskaz, from Proto-Germanic *mann-, from Proto-Indo-European men- — to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...
übermensch (English): An overman who has overcome his humanity; A...
Definitions
- An overman who has overcome his humanity; A...
Ancestry of “übermensch”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | Übermensch | A "superior human"; Overman |
| 2 | German | mensch | one, they |
| 3 | Middle High German | mensche | — |
| 4 | Old High German | mennisko | a man; a human; a human being |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | *mannisk | — |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | manniskaz | human |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | *mann- | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | men- | to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,... |