An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Harm

by Friedrich Kluge

Harm, m., ‘harm, distress, sorrow,’ very rarely occurs in MidHG. and earlier ModHG., probably formed from E. harm and revived in the last cent. through the influence of E. literature (comp. Halle, Heim); MidHG. (entirely disused) harm, m., ‘injury, pain’; OHG. haram, OSax. harm, m., ‘affront, cutting words, mortification’; AS. hearm m., ‘insult, harm’; E. harm; OIc. harm, m., ‘grief, care.’ From pre-Teut. *karma, Sans. *çarma?, çîrma?. This is also indicated by OSlov. sramŭ (from *sormŭ), m., ‘shame, disgrace.’ An OG. (OHG. and OSax.) compound, OHG. haramscara, OSax. harmscara, f., ‘outrageous, excruciating punishment,’ was retained as late as MidHG., in which harn-, harm-schar, ‘torment, distress, punishment,’ remained current, when Harm alone had already disappeared. Comp. herb.