Where does “Machtgier” come from?

Machtgier (German) comes from German macht, from Middle High German maht, from Old High German maht, from Proto-West Germanic mahti, from Proto-Germanic mahtiz, from Proto-Germanic mahtuz, from Proto-Indo-European mógʰtis, from Proto-Indo-European meǵʰ- — to be able.

Machtgier (German): greed for power

Definitions

  1. greed for power

Ancestry of “Machtgier”, step by step

Machtgier traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German macht

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanmachtthird-person singular present of machen;...
2Middle High Germanmaht
3Old High Germanmahtmight
4Proto-West Germanicmahtimight, power
5Proto-Germanicmahtizpower, ability; strength, force
6Proto-Germanicmahtuzmight, power
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmógʰtis
8Proto-Indo-Europeanmeǵʰ-to be able

via German gier

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germangiersecond-person singular imperative of gieren
2Middle High Germangīr
3Old High Germangīrvulture
4Old High Germangirigreedy
5Proto-Germanicgernazeager, willing
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰer-to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines
Every word from Proto-Indo-European meǵʰ-Every word from Proto-Indo-European mógʰtisEvery word from Proto-Germanic mahtuz