Where does “mara” come from?

mara (English) comes from Old Norse mara, from Proto-Germanic marǭ, from Proto-Indo-European mor-, from Proto-Indo-European mer- — to die; to disappear; sea, lake, wetland.

mara (English): A nightmare; a spectre or wraith-like creature in...

Definitions

  1. A nightmare; a spectre or wraith-like creature in...

Ancestry of “mara”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norsemaranightmare, incubus; to be waterlogged, float low...
2Proto-Germanicmarǭevil spirit; succubus; incubus; nightmare
3Proto-Indo-Europeanmor-to blacken, to dirty; dirt spot; to rub, pound,...
4Proto-Indo-Europeanmer-to die; to disappear; sea, lake, wetland
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mer- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European mor- →Every word from Proto-Germanic marǭ →
mara — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer