Where does “hnitan” come from?

hnitan (Old Saxon) comes from Proto-Germanic hnītaną, from Proto-Indo-European kneyd-, from Proto-Indo-European ken- — to arise, begin.

hnitan (Old Saxon): to clash; to tear

Definitions

  1. to clash; to tear

Ancestry of “hnitan”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-GermanichnītanąTo push; knock; butt against
2Proto-Indo-Europeankneyd-to scratch
3Proto-Indo-Europeanken-to arise, begin
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ken- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European kneyd- →Every word from Proto-Germanic hnītaną →