Where does “zeitgeist” come from?

Zeitgeist comes from German Zeitgeist, composed of German Zeit and Middle High German geist, derived from Old High German geist, from Proto-Germanic gaistaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰeysd-.

zeitgeist (English): The spirit of the age; the taste, outlook, and...

Definitions

  1. The spirit of the age; the taste, outlook, and...

Ancestry of “zeitgeist”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanZeitgeistspirit of the age; zeitgeist
2GermanZeittime; time of day; period, era
3Middle High Germanzīttime
4Old High Germanzīttime
5Proto-Indo-Europeandéh₂itisinterval, period of time
6Proto-Indo-Europeandeh₂y-to share, divide
7Proto-Indo-Europeandeh₂-to share, divide
Every word from Proto-Indo-European deh₂- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European deh₂y- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European déh₂itis →
zeitgeist — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer