An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/ganz

by Friedrich Kluge

ganz, adj., ‘whole, complete, entire,’ from MidHG. and OHG. ganz, adj., ‘uninjured, complete, whole, healthy,’ prop. a HG. word simply, which was adopted, however, by the Teut. dialects of MidEurope (Dan. ganske, Du. gansch, OFris. gans; n would not have been retained before s in a native Dan. or Fris. word. The early history of OHG. ganz is obscure; if its primary meaning is ‘encircling,’ it is perhaps connected with Gr. χανδάνω, ‘to comprise’; comp. Gr. χανδός, ‘spacious’?.