Where does “måste” come from?

måste (Swedish) comes from Middle Low German moste, from Old Saxon mōtan, from Proto-Germanic mōtaną, from Proto-Indo-European mōd-, from Proto-Indo-European med- — to measure; to give advice; healing.

måste (Swedish): a must; something that is mandatory or required,...

Definitions

  1. a must; something that is mandatory or required,...

Ancestry of “måste”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Low Germanmoste—
2Old Saxonmōtanto may, to be able to
3Proto-Germanicmōtanąto be allowed, to be permitted to, may
4Proto-Indo-Europeanmōd-to permit, make able
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmed-to measure; to give advice; healing
Every word from Proto-Indo-European med- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European mōd- →Every word from Proto-Germanic mōtaną →