Where does “Aschermittwoch” come from?
Aschermittwoch (German) comes from German asche, from Middle High German asche, from Old High German asca, from Proto-West Germanic askā, from Proto-Germanic askǭ, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eHs- — to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth.
Aschermittwoch (German): Ash Wednesday
Definitions
- Ash Wednesday
Ancestry of “Aschermittwoch”, step by step
Aschermittwoch traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via German asche
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | asche | — |
| 2 | Middle High German | asche | — |
| 3 | Old High German | asca | ash |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | askā | ash, ashes |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | askǭ | ash, ashes |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eHs- | to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth |
via German Mittwoch
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | Mittwoch | Wednesday |
| 2 | Middle High German | mittewoche | Wednesday |
| 3 | Old High German | mittawehha | Wednesday |
| 4 | Ecclesiastical Latin | media hebdomas | — |