An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Schmach

by Friedrich Kluge

Schmach, f., ‘outrage, ignominy,’ from MidHG. (rare) smâch, smâhe, usually smœhe, f., ‘insult, abuse, ignominy’ (to which Ital. smacco, ‘affront,’ is allied?). An abstract from MidHG. smœhe, adj., ‘little, trifling, contemptible’; comp. OHG. smâhi, adj., ‘little, trifling, base,,’ smâhi, f., ‘trifle, baseness’; also OIc. smár, ‘little,’ and, with a different development of meaning, AS. smeálîc, ‘fine, careful.’ A similar variety of meanings is seen in the history of ModHG. klein, for which we must assumne (as for OHG. smâki) the prim. meaning of ‘little, pretty.’ If Gr. μικρός, σμικρός, represents σμεκρός, OHG. smâhi (as if corresponding to *σμήκιος) may be connected with it. The earlier sense still appears faintly in schmachten and verschmachten; comp. MidHG. versmahten (ă or â?), ‘to pine away,’ OHG. gismahteôn, ‘to disappear.’ Allied to schmächtig, adj., ‘pining, languishing,’ from MidHG. (MidG.) smahtec, from MidHG. (MidG.) smaht, ‘pining away’; if these latter cognates contain ă, they may be connected with ModHG. smëcker, ‘slender, narrow, pining.’ See schmähen.