An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Angst

by Friedrich Kluge

Angst, f., from the equiv. MidHG. angest, OHG. angust, f., ‘anxiety, apprehension’; this abstract form is wanting in the other OTeut. dialects, the suffix st being also very rarely found; comp. Dienst. But it must not be assumed therefore that the OHG. angust is borrowed from Lat. angustiae, ‘narrowness, meanness.’ It is rather to be regarded as a genuine Teut. derivative from the root ang appearing in enge, especially as the OSlov. in its primit. allied ązostî, ‘contraction,’ shows the same derivation. Hence Angst must be considered as primit. cognate with Lat. angustiae. See bange and enge.