An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/schlecht

by Friedrich Kluge

schlecht, adj., ‘bad, base, mean,’ from MidHG. slëht, adj., ‘honest, straight, smooth, simple, clear, correct,’ OHG. slëht, ‘straight, even, honest, simple, gentle, friendly’; corresponding to Goth. slaíhts, ‘even, straight,’ OIc. sléttr, ‘straight, even, smooth, gentle,’ OFris. sliacht, ‘honest, simple’; Du. slecht, ‘honest, bad.’ MidE. and E. slight, since the AS. word is not recorded, is probably a Du. loan-word. The meanings are evolved from ‘straight, even, simple’ (see schlicht and schlichten), and has led in ModHG. to a peculiar development in malam partem. The origin of the common Teut. adj. (or to-partic.?) *slehta- is obscure; it cannot, on account of its form and meaning, be connected with schlagen; Gr. ὀλίγος, ‘trifling,’ does not suit the earlier meaning, ‘straight, even, simple.’