weltschmerz etymology

Etymology:

• "Weltschmerz" is a German compound word that combines the following elements:
  • "Welt" (world) + "Schmerz" (pain)

Meaning:

Weltschmerz refers to a sense of profound sadness, disillusionment, and melancholy towards the world and its conditions. It is often accompanied by a feeling of alienation and a belief that the world is inherently flawed or meaningless.

Origin:

• The term "Weltschmerz" was first coined by German critic and writer Jean Paul Friedrich Richter (1763-1825) in his novel "Siebenkäs" (1796).
• It gained wider currency in the Romantic era of the early 19th century, where it found resonance among writers and thinkers who were disenchanted with the perceived failures and contradictions of society.
• Prominent literary figures such as Heinrich Heine, Lord Byron, and Fyodor Dostoevsky expressed sentiments of Weltschmerz in their works.

Usage and Significance:

• Weltschmerz has become a common term used to describe a specific type of existential angst and is often associated with philosophical and literary explorations of human suffering and the nature of existence.
• It can manifest in various forms, from mild feelings of sadness to profound and debilitating despair.
• While Weltschmerz can have a negative connotation, it can also be seen as a sign of empathy and a recognition of the complexities and challenges of human life.

weltschmerz relate terms

• smart

  Etymology of smart Middle English smarte smerte Old English smeortan smeort Proto

• smart

  Etymology of smart Middle English smarte smerte Old English smeortan smeort Proto

• world

  Etymology Old English weoruld Proto Germanic weralz Proto Indo European wer to t

• yard

  Etymology of yard The word yard has several etymological origins Old English gea

• worldly

  Etymology Old English weorold world from Proto Germanic weralz world people C

• melancholy

  Etymology The word melancholy originates from the Greek words melas black and khol

• crisis

  Etymology The word crisis comes from the Greek word krisis which means a turning p

• primordial

  Etymology Primordial is derived from the Latin word primordium which means beginni

• hero

  Etymology The word hero originates from the Greek word ἥρως herōs which refe

• depend

  Etymology The word depend comes from the Latin word dependere which means to hang

• freedom

  Etymology Middle English fredom from Old English frēodōm n state of being free

• Muse

  Etymology of Muse The word muse is derived from the Ancient Greek word μούσα

• inimical

  Etymology Latin inimīcus enemy Proto Indo European h₃en h₁kó s uncongenia

• holy

  Etymology The word holy originates from the Old English word hālġ which means sac

• virtue

  Etymology Latin virtus Proto Indo European u̯ir meaning man hero Meaning