An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Mut

by Friedrich Kluge

Mut, masculine. ‘courage, mood,’ from Middle High German and Old High German muot, masculine, ‘sense, mind, spirits, courage,’ Old Saxon môd, ‘spirits, inner self, heart, courage,’ Dutch moed, masculine, ‘courage,’ Anglo-Saxon môd, neuter, ‘mind, spirits, heart, courage, zeal,’ English mood, Gothic môds, masculine, ‘auger.’ ‘Strong emotion, violent excitement,’ is the primary idea of the common Teutonic stem môda-, the origin of which cannot be traced with certainty in the non-Teutonic languages. The usual derivation from the root mā̆, Greek μαίομαι, ‘to desire,’ is possible. Compare the Slavonic root mě in sŭměją (sŭměti), ‘to venture.’ — Modern High German gemut in wohlgemut, from Middle High German wol gemuot, ‘courageous,’ and the simple gemuot, ‘minded, disposed.’ — Modern High German Gemüt, ‘spirits, disposition,’ from Middle High German gemüete, Old High German gimuoti, neuter, properly a collective of Mut, ‘totality of thoughts and feelings,’ Middle High German also ‘mood, longing,’ Old High German ‘joy.’