An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Gegenwart

by Friedrich Kluge

Gegenwart, ‘presence, present time,’ from Middle High German gęgenwart, Old High German gęginmwarti, feminine, abstract of Old High German gaganwart, ‘present,’ whence Middle High German gęgenwertec, MulHG. gegenwärtig, ‘present.’ See the adjective suffix -wärts.