Where does “Volksgeist” come from?

Volksgeist (German) comes from German geist, from Middle High German geist, from Old High German geist, from Proto-West Germanic gaist, from Proto-Germanic gaistaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰeysd- — anger, agitation.

Volksgeist (German): Volksgeist

Definitions

  1. Volksgeist

Ancestry of “Volksgeist”, step by step

Volksgeist traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German geist

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germangeistspirit
2Middle High Germangeist—
3Old High Germangeistspirit
4Proto-West Germanicgaistghost, spirit
5Proto-Germanicgaistazterror, fear; spirit, ghost; mind
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰeysd-anger, agitation

via German volk

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanvolkpeople, nation, folk, tribe, race group united by culture, history, descent, and/or language
2Middle High Germanvolc—
3Old High Germanfolcfolk; people collectively, nation; people, nation
4Proto-West Germanicfolkpeople, tribe
5Proto-Germanicfulkąpeople; tribe
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpleh₁-to fill
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰeysd- →Every word from Proto-Germanic gaistaz →Every word from Proto-West Germanic gaist →