An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Gnade

by Friedrich Kluge

Gnade, feminine, ‘grace, favour, mercy, pardon,’ from Middle High German gnâde, genâde, feminine, ‘bliss, rest, condescension, support, favour, mercy,’ Old High German ginâda, feminine, ‘condescension, sympathy, compassion, mercy’; corresponding to Old Saxon ginâtha, nâtha, ‘favour, help,’ Dutch genade, Old Icelandic náð, feminine (in the plural), ‘rest.’ The meanings ‘favour, help,’ &c., are attested by the Gothic verb niþan, ‘to support.’ To the Teutonic root nē̆́þ (from Aryan nē̆́th) some assign the primary meaning ‘to incline, decline,’ in order to elucidate ‘rest’ (in Scandinavian; compare Middle High German diu sunne gienc ze gnâden, ‘zur Ruhe,’ i.e. ‘the sun set’). Compare the cognates, Sanscrit root nâth, ‘to beg,’ nâthá, ‘help, refuge.’