Where does “kleinlich” come from?
kleinlich (German) comes from German klein, from Middle High German klein, from Old High German kleini, from Proto-West Germanic *klainī, from Proto-Germanic klainiz, from Proto-Indo-European g(e)lēi-, from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- — to swallow; swallow.
kleinlich (German): petty, small-minded
Ancestry of “kleinlich”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | German | klein | small, little, tiny, wee, small-scale; little,... |
| 2 | Middle High German | klein | — |
| 3 | Old High German | kleini | small, fine, slender; soft, clean; smart,... |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | *klainī | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | klainiz | shining, fine, splendid; tender, precious |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | g(e)lēi- | gleaming |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵel- | to swallow; swallow |