An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/vermessen

by Friedrich Kluge

vermessen, adj., ‘daring, presumptuous,’ from MidHG. vermëȥȥen, OHG. firmëȥȥan, ‘daring, bold’; a partic. of MidHG. veṛmëȥȥąn, OHG. firmëȥȥan, refl. ‘to estimate one's strength too high, have an overweening opinion of oneself.’ —