Where does “Ränkespiel” come from?

Ränkespiel (German) comes from German rank, from Middle Low German rank, from Proto-Germanic rankaz, from Proto-Indo-European reǵ- — to bind; straight, direct; straight, right.

Ränkespiel (German): intrigue

Definitions

  1. intrigue

Ancestry of “Ränkespiel”, step by step

Ränkespiel traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German rank

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanranklithe, lissome; singular imperative of ranken
2Middle Low Germanrank—
3Proto-Germanicrankazerect, upright
4Proto-Indo-Europeanreǵ-to bind; straight, direct; straight, right

via German spiel

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanspiela game instance or way of playing
2Middle High Germanspil—
3Old High Germanspil—
4Proto-West Germanicspildance; game, exercise
Every word from Proto-Indo-European reǵ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic rankaz →Every word from Middle Low German rank →
Ränkespiel — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer