Where does “medelmåttig” come from?
medelmåttig (Swedish) comes from Swedish medel, from Middle Dutch lô, from Old Dutch lō, from Proto-West Germanic lauh, from Proto-Germanic lauhaz, from Proto-Indo-European lówkos, from Proto-Indo-European lewḱ-, from Proto-Indo-European lewk- — bright; to shine; to see.
medelmåttig (Swedish): mediocre (ordinary: not extraordinary; not special, exceptional, or great; of medium quality), average
Definitions
- mediocre (ordinary: not extraordinary; not special, exceptional, or great; of medium quality), average
Ancestry of “medelmåttig”, step by step
medelmåttig traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Swedish medel
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swedish | medel | a means (to an end) |
| 2 | Middle Dutch | lô | clearing in a forest |
| 3 | Old Dutch | lō | forest |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | lauh | clearing; meadow |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | lauhaz | clearing; meadow |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | lówkos | clearing; open space, clearing; field, meadow |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | lewḱ- | lynx |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | lewk- | bright; to shine; to see |