Etymology Explorer › German

Where does “greinen” come from?

greinen (German) comes from Middle High German grīnen, from Old High German grīnan, from Proto-Germanic grīnaną, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer- — to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines.

greinen (German): to whine, to moan

Definitions

  1. to whine, to moan

Ancestry of “greinen”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle High Germangrīnen—
2Old High Germangrīnanto twist the mouth
3Proto-Germanicgrīnanąto snarl, show teeth, grin; to flash, give light
4Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰer-to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines

Words derived from “greinen”

  • grein
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer- →