Where does “Lebensmensch” come from?
Lebensmensch (German) comes from German mensch, from Middle High German mensche, from Old High German mennisko, from Proto-West Germanic *mannisk, from Proto-Germanic manniskaz, from Proto-Germanic *mann-, from Proto-Indo-European men- — to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...
Lebensmensch (German): the most important person in one's life
Definitions
- the most important person in one's life
Ancestry of “Lebensmensch”, step by step
Lebensmensch traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via German mensch
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | mensch | one, they |
| 2 | Middle High German | mensche | — |
| 3 | Old High German | mennisko | a man; a human; a human being |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | *mannisk | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | manniskaz | human |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | *mann- | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | men- | to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,... |
via German lebēn
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | lebēn | — |
| 2 | Middle High German | leben | to live |
| 3 | Old High German | lebēn | to live; life |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | libbjan | to live, to be alive |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | libjaną | to live, to be alive |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | leyp- | to stick; fat or sticky substance |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | lēy- | to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave... |