Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “weltschmerz” come from?

weltschmerz (English) comes from German Weltschmerz, from German welt, from Middle High German werlt, from Old High German weralt, from Proto-West Germanic weraldi, from Proto-Germanic weraldiz, from Proto-Germanic weraz, from Proto-Indo-European wiHrós — to chase, pursue; to suppress, persecute.

weltschmerz (English): World-weariness; an apathetic or pessimistic view...

Definitions

  1. World-weariness; an apathetic or pessimistic view...

Ancestry of “weltschmerz”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanWeltschmerzworld-weariness; weltschmerz; causeless sadness;...
2Germanwelt—
3Middle High Germanwerlt—
4Old High Germanweraltworld
5Proto-West Germanicweraldiworld
6Proto-Germanicweraldizlifetime, worldly existence; mankind; world
7Proto-Germanicwerazman; husband
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanwiHrósman; husband; warrior, hero
9Proto-Indo-Europeanweyh₁-to chase, pursue; to suppress, persecute
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weyh₁- →