Where does “ettermæle” come from?

ettermæle (Norwegian Nynorsk) comes from Norwegian Nynorsk mæle, from Old Norse mæla, from Old Norse mál, from Proto-Germanic mēlą, from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.

ettermæle (Norwegian Nynorsk): reputation as assessed afterwards, usually posthumously

Definitions

  1. reputation as assessed afterwards, usually posthumously

Ancestry of “ettermæle”, step by step

ettermæle traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Norwegian Nynorsk mæle

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Norwegian Nynorskmælevoice
2Old Norsemælato speak
3Old Norsemállanguage; speech; matter, affair
4Proto-Germanicmēląmeasure, measurement; time, occasion; point in...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmelh₂-to grind, to crush
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmel-soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange

via Norwegian Nynorsk etter

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Norwegian Nynorsketterafter; behind
2Old Norseettir
3Proto-Germanicaftirimore aft, further behind
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂epoterosfurther behind, further away
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey-Every word from Proto-Indo-European mel-Every word from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-