An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Atem

by Friedrich Kluge

Atem, m., from the equiv. MidHG. âtem (âten), OHG. âtum, m., ‘breath, spirit’; comp. MidHG. der heilege âtem, OHG. der wîho âtum, ‘the Holy Spirit;’ ModHG. collateral form (prop. dialectic) Odem. The word is not found in East Teut.; in Goth. ahma, ‘spirit,’ is used instead (see achten). Comp. OSax. âðom, Du. adem, AS. œ̂þm (obsolete in Eng.), ‘breath.’ The cognates point to Aryan êtmon-, Sans. âtmán, m., ‘puff, breath, spirit’; also OIr. athach, ‘breath,’ Gr. ἀτμός, ‘smoke, vapour.’ Whether ModHG. Ader and Gr. ἥτορ, ‘heart,’ are derived from the root êt, ‘to exhale, breathe,’ contained in these cognates, is questionable.