Where does “lebenswert” come from?
lebenswert (German) comes from German -wert, from German wert, from Middle High German wert, from Old High German werd, from Proto-Germanic werþaz, from Proto-Indo-European wert-, from Proto-Indo-European wer- — to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel.
lebenswert (German): worth living
Ancestry of “lebenswert”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | German | -wert | -worthy |
| 2 | German | wert | worth something, worthy of something; worthy of... |
| 3 | Middle High German | wert | — |
| 4 | Old High German | werd | worth |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | werþaz | worthy, valuable |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | wert- | to turn, to rotate |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | wer- | to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel |