Where does “Wergeld” come from?
Wergeld (German) comes from Middle High German wergelt, from Old High German werigelt, from Proto-West Germanic werageld, from Proto-West Germanic wer, from Proto-Germanic wēraz, from Proto-Indo-European wiHrós, from Proto-Indo-European weyh₁- — to chase, pursue; to suppress, persecute.
Wergeld (German): blood money, wergeld, diyya
Definitions
- blood money, wergeld, diyya
Ancestry of “Wergeld”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle High German | wergelt | — |
| 2 | Old High German | werigelt | — |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | werageld | compensation for a man's life, wergeld |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | wer | man |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | wēraz | true; reliable; friendly; kind |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | wiHrós | man; husband; warrior, hero |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | weyh₁- | to chase, pursue; to suppress, persecute |