Where does “løsepenger” come from?
løsepenger (Norwegian Bokmål) comes from Norwegian Bokmål løse, from Old Norse leysa, from Proto-Germanic lausijaną, from Proto-Germanic -janą, from Proto-Indo-European -yéti, from Proto-Indo-European yé-, from Chichewa iye — he, she.
løsepenger (Norwegian Bokmål): a ransom
Definitions
- a ransom
Ancestry of “løsepenger”, step by step
løsepenger traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Norwegian Bokmål løse
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norwegian Bokmål | løse | definite singular of løs; plural of løs; to solve |
| 2 | Old Norse | leysa | to loosen |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | lausijaną | to make loose; to release, to set free |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | -janą | Derives denominatives from nouns and factitives... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | -yéti | Creates intransitive, often deponent,... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | yé- | — |
| 7 | Chichewa | iye | he, she |