Where does “elja” come from?

elja (Icelandic) comes from Old Norse eljan, from Proto-Germanic aljaną, from Proto-Indo-European h₁elh₂- — to drive, move, go.

elja (Icelandic): endurance, perseverance; concubine, mistress

Definitions

  1. endurance, perseverance; concubine, mistress

Ancestry of “elja”, step by step

elja traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old Norse eljan

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norseeljanendurance, energy
2Proto-Germanicaljanązeal, eagerness; strength, courage; to cause to...
3Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁elh₂-to drive, move, go

via Old Norse elja

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norseeljaa rival wife
2Proto-Germanicaljôrival
3Proto-Indo-Europeanal-all; to burn; to flow, to drain
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁elh₂- →Every word from Proto-Germanic aljaną →Every word from Old Norse eljan →