Where does “Weltschmerz” come from?

Weltschmerz (German) comes from German welt, from Middle High German werlt, from Old High German weralt, from Proto-West Germanic weraldi, from Proto-Germanic weraldiz, from Proto-Germanic weraz, from Proto-Indo-European wiHrós, from Proto-Indo-European weyh₁- — to chase, pursue; to suppress, persecute.

Weltschmerz (German): world-weariness; weltschmerz; causeless sadness;...

Definitions

  1. world-weariness; weltschmerz; causeless sadness;...

Ancestry of “Weltschmerz”, step by step

Weltschmerz traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German welt

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanweltworld
2Middle High Germanwerltworld
3Old High Germanweraltworld
4Proto-West Germanicweraldiworld
5Proto-Germanicweraldizlifetime, worldly existence; mankind; world
6Proto-Germanicwerazman; husband
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanwiHrósman; husband; warrior, hero
8Proto-Indo-Europeanweyh₁-to chase, pursue; to suppress, persecute

via German schmerz

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanschmerzphysical pain, ache (practically, as a sensation)
2Middle High Germansmerze—
3Old High Germansmerza—

Words derived from “Weltschmerz”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European weyh₁- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European wiHrós →Every word from Proto-Germanic weraz →