Where does “schmachten” come from?
schmachten (German) comes from German Schmacht, from Proto-Germanic smēhaz, from Proto-Indo-European smēk-, from Proto-Indo-European smē- — to rub; smear.
schmachten (German): to languish; to pine
Ancestry of “schmachten”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | German | Schmacht | — |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | smēhaz | small; little |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | smēk- | — |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | smē- | to rub; smear |