Where does “ni-” come from?

ni- (Norwegian Nynorsk) comes from Old Norse níð, from Proto-Germanic nīþą, from Proto-Indo-European neyH- — to lead.

ni- (Norwegian Nynorsk): Used as an intensifier, especially in verbs

Definitions

  1. Used as an intensifier, especially in verbs

Ancestry of “ni-”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norseníðdefamation; honorless
2Proto-Germanicnīþąhate, envy, malice
3Proto-Indo-EuropeanneyH-to lead

Words derived from “ni-”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European neyH- →Every word from Proto-Germanic nīþą →Every word from Old Norse níð →