kleini

Old High German

Etymology 1

From Proto-Germanic *klainiz (“brilliantly bright, fine, elegant”) (compare Old English clǣne), from Proto-Indo-European *gley- (“to stick, smudge”).

Adjective

kleini

1. small, fine, slender
2. soft, clean
3. smart, thorough, wise, crafty, keen
4. costly

Derived terms

• kleinī

Descendants

• Middle High German: klein, kleine
  • Alemannic German: chlii, chly, chlei, klei, chli
    • Swabian: gloi
    • Vorarlbergerisch: klän, klen, kli, klin
  • Bavarian: gloa
    • Apeltonerisch: klua
    • Cimbrian: khlòan, khlumma (Luserna)
  • Central Franconian: kleen
    • Hunsrik: kleen
    • Kölsch: klein
  • Rhine Franconian:
    • Hessian: klaan
    • Pennsylvania German: glee
  • German: klein
  • Yiddish: קליין (kleyn)

Etymology 2

From Proto-Germanic *klainīn. Consists of kleini (“small”) +‎ -ī.

Noun

kleinī f

1. beauty, delicateness, cleanness
2. experience, cleverness
3. proof, knowledge, sense