Where does “Minderzahl” come from?

Minderzahl (German) comes from German zahl, from Latvian zāle, from German Saal, from Middle High German sal, from Old High German sal, from Proto-West Germanic sāli, from Proto-Germanic saliz, from Proto-Indo-European sol- — whole.

Minderzahl (German): minority, inferior number(s)

Definitions

  1. minority, inferior number(s)

Ancestry of “Minderzahl”, step by step

Minderzahl traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German zahl

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanzahlsingular imperative of zahlen; first-person...
2Latvianzālegrass; weed; herb
3GermanSaalhall or large room
4Middle High Germansal
5Old High Germansalhouse, hall; dwelling, house, entrance hall;...
6Proto-West Germanicsālihappiness, prosperity; proper, appropriate time
7Proto-Germanicsalizhouse; dwelling; hall; room
8Proto-Indo-Europeansol-whole

via German minder

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanmindercomparative degree of wenig; comparative degree...
2Middle High Germanminder
3Old High Germanminnirosmaller; less; fewer
4Proto-Germanicminnizôcomparative degree of *lītilaz
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sol-Every word from Proto-Germanic salizEvery word from Proto-West Germanic sāli