An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Ehre

by Friedrich Kluge

Ehre, f., ‘honour,’ from MidHG. êre, OHG. êra, f., ‘honour, fame, sense of honour’; corresponds to OSax. êra, f., ‘honour, protection, pardon, gift,’ AS. âr, f., ‘honour, help, pardon’ (ârian, ‘to spare, pardon’), OIc. eir, f., ‘pardon, gentleness.’ Goth. *aiza is by chance not recorded; it is probably allied to Goth. ais-tan, ‘to shun, respect,’ which is undoubtedly primit. akin to Lat. aes-tumare, ‘to acknowledge, value.’ It is probably connected with the Sans. root iš, ‘to desire, seek to obtain.’