Where does “ellengast” come from?

ellengast (Old English) comes from Old English ellen, from Proto-West Germanic alljan, from Proto-Germanic aljaną, from Proto-Indo-European h₁elh₂- — to drive, move, go.

ellengast (Old English): a powerful spirit used in Beowulf to speak of Grendel

Definitions

  1. a powerful spirit used in Beowulf to speak of Grendel

Ancestry of “ellengast”, step by step

ellengast traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old English ellen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishellenstrength, courage, bravery; elder tree; elder...
2Proto-West Germanicalljanzeal
3Proto-Germanicaljanązeal, eagerness; strength, courage; to cause to...
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁elh₂-to drive, move, go

via Old English gāst

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishgāstbreath, soul, spirit, ghost, being
2Proto-West Germanicgaistghost, spirit
3Proto-Germanicgaistazterror, fear; spirit, ghost; mind
4Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰeysd-anger, agitation
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁elh₂- →