Etymology Explorer › German

Where does “Geist” come from?

Geist (German) comes from Middle High German geist, from Old High German geist, from Proto-West Germanic gaist, from Proto-Germanic gaistaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰeysd- — anger, agitation.

Geist (German): spirit; the Holy Spirit; Holy Ghost; essence

Definitions

  1. spirit; the Holy Spirit; Holy Ghost; essence

Ancestry of “Geist”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle High Germangeist—
2Old High Germangeistspirit
3Proto-West Germanicgaistghost, spirit
4Proto-Germanicgaistazterror, fear; spirit, ghost; mind
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰeysd-anger, agitation

Words derived from “Geist”

  • zeitgeist
  • poltergeist
  • geist
  • zeitgeisty
  • poltergeistlike
  • poltergeistic
  • poltergeistism
  • poltergeisty
  • zeitgeistily
  • полтергейст
  • Weltgeist
  • geistig
  • geistesabwesend
  • fußballbegeistert
  • Teamgeist
  • Geisterbahn
  • Schöngeist
  • geisteswissenschaftlich
  • begeistert
  • begeistern
  • Geisterfahrer
  • Geisteszustand
  • geistlich
  • Zeitgeist
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰeysd- →