Where does “Geistesgeschichte” come from?

Geistesgeschichte (German) comes from German geist, 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.

Geistesgeschichte (German): intellectual history; history of ideas: the methodical study of the origin, development, transmission, and effect of intellectual ideas — such as those of religion, philosophy, science, etc. — throughout the history of a nation or epoch

Definitions

  1. intellectual history; history of ideas: the methodical study of the origin, development, transmission, and effect of intellectual ideas — such as those of religion, philosophy, science, etc. — throughout the history of a nation or epoch

Ancestry of “Geistesgeschichte”, step by step

Geistesgeschichte traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German geist

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germangeistspirit
2Middle High Germangeist
3Old High Germangeistspirit
4Proto-West Germanicgaistghost, spirit
5Proto-Germanicgaistazterror, fear; spirit, ghost; mind
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰeysd-anger, agitation

via German geschichte

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germangeschichtehistory
2Middle High Germangeschicht(e)event, struggle, story, history
3Old High Germangisciht
4Proto-Germanicskehanąto jump; spring up; to emerge; come up; happen
5Proto-Indo-Europeansḱek-to pass, happen
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰeysd-Every word from Proto-Germanic gaistazEvery word from Proto-West Germanic gaist
Geistesgeschichte — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer