An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/öde

by Friedrich Kluge

öde, adjective, ‘deserted, waste,’ from Middle High German œde, adjective, ‘uncultivated, uninhabited, empty, foolish, poor, infirm,’ Old High German ôdi, ‘desolate, empty’; corresponding to Gothic auþs, ‘desolate, solitary, unfertile,’ Old Icelandic auðr. In some of the languages of the Teutonic group there occurs an adjective similar in sound, but apparently of a different etymology, with the meaning ‘easy.’ Compare Old Saxon oði, Old High German ôdi, Anglo-Saxon ŷþe, eáþe, Old Icelandic auð- (in compounds), ‘easy.’ The primary meanings of both classes are uncertain.