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

Definitions

  1. to languish; to pine

Ancestry of “schmachten”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanSchmachtneed, privation, especially hunger or thirst
2Proto-Germanicsmēhazsmall; little
3Proto-Indo-Europeansmēk-beard; chin
4Proto-Indo-Europeansmē-to rub; smear

Words derived from “schmachten”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European smē- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European smēk- →Every word from Proto-Germanic smēhaz →