Where does “Peinlichkeit” come from?
Peinlichkeit (German) comes from German peinlich, from German Pein, from Middle High German pīne, from Old High German pīna, from Latin poenā, from Ancient Greek ποινή, from Proto-Hellenic kʷoinā́, from Proto-Indo-European kʷoynéh₂ — to pay; to avenge.
Peinlichkeit (German): embarrassment, awkwardness the state of being embarrassing, awkward
Definitions
- embarrassment, awkwardness the state of being embarrassing, awkward
Ancestry of “Peinlichkeit”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | peinlich | Pertaining to torture; awkward; embarrassing,... |
| 2 | German | Pein | torment; agony; pain |
| 3 | Middle High German | pīne | — |
| 4 | Old High German | pīna | — |
| 5 | Latin | poenā | penalty, punishment |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | ποινή | blood money, wergeld; fine, ransom, penalty,... |
| 7 | Proto-Hellenic | kʷoinā́ | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷoynéh₂ | payment; punishment, vengeance |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷey- | to pay; to avenge |