English
Meinen
Meinen comes from Old High German magin ‘strength’, from Proto-West Germanic *magan ‘to be able, may’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *megʰ-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*megʰ-‘to be able’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*(me)mógʰe‘to have power, to be able to’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*maganą‘to be able, may’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*magan‘to be able, may’reconstructed
- Old High Germanc. 750–1050magin‘strength’
- EnglishtodayMeinen
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*megʰ-‘to be able’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*(me)mógʰe‘to have power, to be able to’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*maganą‘to be able, may’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*magan‘to be able, may’reconstructed
- Old High Germanc. 750–1050magin‘strength’
- EnglishtodayMeinen
The story
As a north German and Dutch surname, from the surnames Mein, as well as Meine, from Old High German magin (‘strength’), from Proto-West Germanic *magan, as well as gimeini (‘mean, unkind’), from Proto-West Germanic *gamainī.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *megʰ- ‘to be able’
main, mechanical, mechanism, mechanic, magician, dismay, mage, mecha, magus, machinist, 76 more
through Proto-Indo-European *(me)mógʰe ‘to have power, to be able to’
through Proto-Germanic *maganą ‘to be able, may’
mighty, yay, mightily, yayo, 3 more
through Proto-West Germanic *magan ‘to be able, may’
Today it means
name A surname.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *megʰ- / Meinen