Where does “Elend” come from?
Elend (German) comes from Middle High German elen, from Old High German elina, from Proto-West Germanic alinu, from Proto-Germanic alinō, from Proto-Indo-European Heh₃l-én-eh₂, from Proto-Indo-European Heh₃l- — to bow, to bend; elbow.
Elend (German): misery
Ancestry of “Elend”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle High German | elen | — |
| 2 | Old High German | elina | ulna, ell, elbow; ell |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | alinu | forearm, ell |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | alinō | elbow; ell, cubit |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | Heh₃l-én-eh₂ | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | Heh₃l- | to bow, to bend; elbow |