stein-

See also: stein, -stein, and Stein

German

Etymology

From Stein (“stone”). Originally used in semantically transparent forms like steinalt (“stone-old”), steinhart (“stone-hard”), steintaub (“stone-deaf”), steintot (“stone-dead”), etc. Then generalised to other adjectives without a semantic relation to the basic word, such as steinreich (literally “stone-rich”). See the same in Dutch steengoed (literally “stone-good”), Icelandic steinóður (literally “stone-mad”). Compare further German stock-.

Prefix

stein-

1. (colloquial) very

Derived terms

German terms prefixed with stein-

References

• “stein-” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

Icelandic

Etymology

Ultimately an intensifier related to steinn (“stone”), as in calling someone "stone-deaf," or the phrase steinn óður (“stone mad”). Compare Danish sten-, German stein-.

Prefix

stein-

1. (emphatic) completely, extremely

Synonyms

• (completely): alveg

Derived terms

Icelandic terms prefixed with stein-

• steinblindur
• steindauður
• steinhissa
• steinhalda kjafti
• steinhljóð
• steinsnar
• steinþegja