Etymology Explorer › German

Where does “greif” come from?

greif (German) comes from Middle High German grif, from Old High German grif, from Proto-West Germanic *gripi, from Proto-Germanic gripiz, from Proto-Germanic grīpaną, from Proto-Indo-European gʰreyb-, from Proto-Indo-European gʰer- — to rub; to stroke; to grind.

greif (German): singular imperative of greifen; first-person...

Definitions

  1. singular imperative of greifen; first-person...

Ancestry of “greif”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle High Germangrif—
2Old High Germangrif—
3Proto-West Germanic*gripi—
4Proto-GermanicgripizA grip, grabbing or grasp; Something that is held...
5Proto-Germanicgrīpanąto grab, grasp
6Proto-Indo-Europeangʰreyb-to grab, grasp; to grasp, grab; to grab, to grasp
7Proto-Indo-Europeangʰer-to rub; to stroke; to grind

Words derived from “greif”

  • handgreiflich
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰer- →