The English source dictionary · partial corpus coverage

English word origins · page 131

35,981 permanent word records. Read the source etymologies, inspect mentioned relationships and see where the evidence stops. These are not 35,981 independently reviewed deep dives.

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Page 131 of 180

lats

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

5 source sections · 4 relationship mentions

latte

Ellipsis of caffè latte, from Italian caffellatte, ultimately from Latin lac, lactis.

2 source sections · 2 relationship mentions

latus

From Latin latus (“side”) of uncertain etymology.

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

lauan

Borrowed from Tagalog lawaan.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

Inherited from Middle English lauden, from Old French lauder, from Latin laudō, laudāre, from laus (“praise, glory, fame, renown”), from echoic Proto-Indo-European root *leh₁wdʰ- (“song, sound”). Cognate with Old English

1 source section · 6 relationship mentions

laugh

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *klek- Proto-Germanic *hlahjaną Proto-West Germanic *hlahhjan Old English hliehhander. Old English hlæhhan Middle English laughen, laghen English laugh From Middle English laughen, lagh

1 source section · 23 relationship mentions

laund

From Middle English launde, from Old French launde (“wooded area”) (French lande), of Germanic or Gaulish origin, from Proto-Germanic *landą (“land”) or Proto-Celtic *landā, both from Proto-Indo-European *lendʰ- (“land,

1 source section · 7 relationship mentions

laup

From Old Norse hlaupa.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

laura

From the Late Latin laura, from Ancient Greek λαύρα (laúra, “lane, path”).

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

lava

From Italian, from Neapolitan and Sicilian lava (“lava; downpour overflowing the streets”), likely from Latin lābēs (“a fall; a collapse; subsidence”); compare lābīna (“landslide”). A supposed relation with lavare (“to w

1 source section · 3 relationship mentions

lave

The verb is derived from Middle English laven (“to bathe, wash; to bail or draw water, drain, exhaust; to dampen, wet; to pour; of water, etc.: to flow, stream”), and then partly: * from Old French laver (“to be washed;

3 source sections · 27 relationship mentions

laver

From Middle English laver, lavre, lever, levre, laber (“a kind of water plant”), from Old English læfer, leber (“a rush (plant)”), a borrowing from Latin laver (“water plant”).

3 source sections · 8 relationship mentions

lavic

From lava + -ic.

1 source section · 2 relationship mentions · brief record

lavta

Borrowed from Turkish lavta, ultimately from Venetan lauto. Doublet of laouto, lute, and oud.

1 source section · 5 relationship mentions

lavvu

Probably from Northern Sami lávvu, ultimately from Proto-Sami *lāvō.

1 source section · 2 relationship mentions

lavvy

From lav (“clipped form of lavatory”) + -y (“forming affectionate diminutives”).

1 source section · 2 relationship mentions

lavy

From lave (“to pour out, lavish”) + -y.

2 source sections · 6 relationship mentions

law

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *legʰ-der. Proto-Germanic *lagą Old Norse lag Old Norse lǫgbor. Old English lagu Middle English lawe English law From Middle English lawe, laȝe, from Old English lagu (“law”), borrowed

4 source sections · 24 relationship mentions

lawe

Perhaps from law because the practice was ordained by law. Few dictionaries comment directly on the etymology of the sense, but several (which also spell the infinitive law) group it with the other verb and noun senses d

1 source section · 1 relationship mention

lawl

Eye dialect spelling of lol as though pronounced as a single word with a drawl.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lawly

From Middle English lawly, Northern variant of Middle English lowly, louly, louelich, equivalent to law (“low”) + -ly. More at lowly.

1 source section · 2 relationship mentions

lawlz

A corruption of LOL, see lolz and lawl.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lawn

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *lendʰ- Proto-Indo-European *-om Proto-Germanic *landąder.? Proto-Indo-European *lendʰ-der. Proto-Celtic *landāder.? Vulgar Latin *landa? Old French landebor. Middle English launde Engl

2 source sections · 11 relationship mentions

lawny

From lawn + -y.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lax

From Middle English lax, from Old English leax (“salmon”), from Proto-West Germanic *lahs (“salmon”), from Proto-Germanic *lahsaz (“salmon”), from Proto-Indo-European *laḱs- (“salmon, trout”). Cognate with Middle Dutch l

3 source sections · 18 relationship mentions

laxed

From lax + -ed.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

laxen

From lax + -en.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

laxer

Etymology tree English lax Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-os? Proto-Indo-European *-o- Proto-Indo-European *-so- Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂so- Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂s(i)yós Pr

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions

laxly

Etymology tree English lax Middle English -ly English -ly English laxly From lax + -ly.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lay

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *legʰ- Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Indo-European *logʰéyeti Proto-Germanic *lagjaną Proto-West Germanic *laggjan Old English leċġan Middle English leyen

8 source sections · 56 relationship mentions

layan

From Malay layan (“to serve, to entertain”).

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

layer

Appears at first glance to be from Middle English leyer, leyare (“a layer of stones or bricks”), equivalent to lay + -er. In which case, ultimately identical to etymology 2 below. For the pronunciation compare prayer. Ho

2 source sections · 2 relationship mentions

layup

From lay + up.

1 source section · 2 relationship mentions · brief record

lazar

From Middle English lazare, from Old French lazare, from Medieval Latin lazarus (“leper”), an antonomasia from Lazarus, from Koine Greek Λᾱ́ζᾱρος (Lā́zāros), the given name of the Biblical figure found in Luke 16, from H

1 source section · 3 relationship mentions

laze

Back-formation from lazy.

2 source sections · 2 relationship mentions · brief record

lazen

From laze + -en (verbal suffix).

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lazer

From laze + -er.

2 source sections · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lazy

Attested since 1540, origin uncertain. Probably from Low German and Middle Low German lasich (“slack, feeble, lazy”), from las, from Old Saxon lask, from Proto-Germanic *lasiwaz, *laskaz (“feeble, weak”), from Proto-Indo

1 source section · 10 relationship mentions

lazzo

Borrowed from Italian lazzo.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lb

(unit of weight): Abbreviation of libra.

2 source sections · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lbf

See lb (“pound”).

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lbm

See lb (“pound”).

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lbs

From lb + -s as a naturalization in English irrespective of any New Latin morphology; for more, see Nos. § Etymology.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

le

Borrowed from French le (“the”). Popularized especially by the expression le sigh.

2 source sections · 2 relationship mentions

lea

From Middle English legh, lege, lei (“clearing, open ground”), from Old English lēah (“clearing in a forest”) from Proto-West Germanic *lauh (“meadow”), from Proto-Germanic *lauhaz (“meadow”), from Proto-Indo-European *l

2 source sections · 16 relationship mentions

leach

From Middle English leche (“leachate; sluggish stream”), from Old English *lǣċ, *lǣċe (“muddy stream”), from Proto-Germanic *lēkijō (“a leak, drain, flow”) (compare Proto-Germanic *lekaną (“to leak, drain”)), from Proto-

2 source sections · 11 relationship mentions

lead

From Middle English led, leed, from Old English lēad (“lead”), from Proto-West Germanic *laud (“lead”), possibly borrowed from Proto-Celtic *ɸloudom, from Proto-Indo-European *plewd- (“to flow”). Cognate with Scots leid,

4 source sections · 46 relationship mentions

leady

From Middle English leddy, ledy, ledi, equivalent to lead + -y.

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

leaf

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *lewbʰ-der.? Proto-Germanic *laubą Proto-West Germanic *laub Old English lēaf Middle English lef English leaf From Middle English lef, leef, from Old English lēaf, from Proto-West Germa

2 source sections · 52 relationship mentions

leafy

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *lewbʰ-der.? Proto-Germanic *laubą Proto-West Germanic *laub Old English lēaf Middle English lef English leaf Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions

leak

From Middle English leken (“to let water in or out”), from Old English *lecan (“to leak”), Middle Dutch leken (“to leak, drip”) or Old Norse leka (“to leak, drip”); all from Proto-Germanic *lekaną (“to leak, drain”), fro

1 source section · 13 relationship mentions

leaky

Likely a normalisation ( + -y) of earlier leak, leake, leke (“leaky”, adjective), from Middle English leke (“leaky”), from Old English hlec, *lec (“having cracks or rents; leaky”), from Proto-Germanic *lekaz (“leaking; l

1 source section · 9 relationship mentions

leal

Inherited from Middle English leel, lel, borrowed from Anglo-Norman leal and Old French leial, from Latin lēgālis. Doublet of loyal and legal.

1 source section · 5 relationship mentions

leam

From Middle English lemen, from Old English līeman, from Proto-West Germanic *liuhmijan, from Proto-Indo-European *lewk- (“light, bright”).

3 source sections · 10 relationship mentions

lean

From Middle English lenen (“to lean”), from Old English hleonian, hlinian (“to lean, recline, lie down, rest”), from Proto-West Germanic *hlinēn, from Proto-Germanic *hlināną (“to lean, incline”), from Proto-Indo-Europea

3 source sections · 15 relationship mentions

leany

From lean + -y.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

leap

From Middle English lepen, from Old English hlēapan, from Proto-West Germanic *hlaupan, from Proto-Germanic *hlaupaną. Doublet of lope, lowp, elope, gallop, galop, interlope, and loop. Cognate with North Frisian laap, lu

2 source sections · 33 relationship mentions

lear

From Middle English laire, leire, lere, northern Middle English variants of lore, loare (“doctrine, teaching, lore”), from Old English lār (“lore”). More at lore.

4 source sections · 3 relationship mentions

learn

From Middle English lernen (“to learn", also, "to teach"”), from Old English leornian (“to learn", rarely also, "to teach”), from Proto-West Germanic *liʀnōn, from Proto-Germanic *lizaną, from Proto-Indo-European *(le-)l

1 source section · 9 relationship mentions

lease

From Middle English *lesen, from Anglo-Norman *leser, Old French lesser, laisier (“to let, let go”), partly from Latin laxō (“to loose”) and partly from Old High German lāzan (“to let, let go, release”) (German lassen),

7 source sections · 21 relationship mentions

leash

From Middle English leesshe, leysche, lesshe, a variant of more original lease, from Middle English lees, leese, leece, lese, from Old French lesse (modern French laisse), either from Latin laxa, feminine form of laxus (

1 source section · 8 relationship mentions

least

The adjective, determiner, and noun are derived from Middle English leste, lest, last (“(adjective) smallest, least; (noun) smallest thing, etc.; person or thing least in importance; etc.”), from Old English lǣst, a cont

2 source sections · 9 relationship mentions

leasy

From Old English [Term?] (“void, loose, false”). Compare leasing.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

leat

Probably from Middle English lete (“a meeting or intersection of roads; junction; crossroads; conduit”), from Old English ġelǣte (“a going out, ending, meeting”), as in Old English wæterġelǣt (“watercourse, aquaduct”), f

1 source section · 7 relationship mentions

leave

From Middle English leven, from Old English lǣfan (“to leave”), from Proto-West Germanic *laibijan, from Proto-Germanic *laibijaną (“to let stay, leave”), causative of *lībaną (“to stay, remain”), from Proto-Indo-Europea

6 source sections · 51 relationship mentions

lebai

Borrowed from Malay lebai (“someone who knows a lot about religion, a religious expert”). The extended sense of "a supporter or member of PAS" was used by opponents to mock the conservative Islamic party's obsession with

1 source section · 1 relationship mention

leban

Borrowed from Arabic لَبَن (laban), meaning either milk or yogurt depending on region.

1 source section · 2 relationship mentions

lebes

Borrowed from Ancient Greek λέβης (lébēs).

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lebia

Borrowed from translingual Lebia.

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

leceh

Unadapted borrowing from Malay leceh.

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

lech

Back-formation from lecher.

2 source sections · 1 relationship mention · brief record

lechi

From Hebrew לֶחִי (léḥi, “stake fastened in the ground”, literally “jawbone”).

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

lechy

From lech + -y.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lecky

Diminutive form of electricity.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lect

Use of the compound element -lect as an independent noun.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lede

From Middle English lede, leode (“man; human being, person; lord, prince; God; sir; group, kind; race; a people, nation; human race; land, real property”) [and other forms], from three closely related words: * Old Englis

3 source sections · 16 relationship mentions

leden

From Middle English leden, leoden, from Old English lēoden (“national or popular language”). More at leid and leed.

1 source section · 2 relationship mentions

ledge

From Middle English legge, from Old English leċġ (“bar, crossbeam”), from Proto-West Germanic *laggju (“layer, strip, ledge, rung, bar”), from Proto-Germanic *lagjō (“layer, stratum”), from Proto-Indo-European *legʰ- (“t

2 source sections · 12 relationship mentions

ledgy

From ledge + -y.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lee

From Middle English lee, from Old English hlēo, hlēow (“shelter, protection”), from Proto-West Germanic *hlaiw (whence also Proto-Slavic *xlěvъ), from Proto-Germanic *hlaiwaz (compare German Lee (“lee”), Swedish lä, Dani

1 source section · 14 relationship mentions

leech

From Middle English leche (“blood-sucking worm”), from Old English lǣċe (“blood-sucking worm”), akin to Middle Dutch lāke ("blood-sucking worm"; > modern Dutch laak).

4 source sections · 32 relationship mentions

leed

From Middle English lede, shortened variant of leden (“language”), from Old English lēoden (“popular or national language, native tongue”), from Old English lēod (“people, nation”). Cognate with Scots leed (“language”).

4 source sections · 11 relationship mentions

leek

From Middle English leek, leeke, lek, leke, leyke, from Old English lēac, lēc (“allium; garlic or leek”), from Proto-West Germanic *lauk, from Proto-Germanic *laukaz (“leek”), from *leukaną, *lūkaną (“to close, shut”), f

1 source section · 29 relationship mentions

leeky

From leek + -y.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

leer

Exact development uncertain, but apparently from a verb *leer (“to make a face, look sideways”), from leer (“cheek, face, profile”) (see below).

5 source sections · 29 relationship mentions

leere

Uncertain.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

leery

First attested in 1718, “untrustful, suspicious”, either from leer (“sideward look”) + -y, lear (“learning, knowledge”) + -y. More at leer, lear.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions

lees

From Old French lies, from Medieval Latin lias (“lees, dregs”) (descent via winemaking common in monasteries), from Gaulish *ligyā, *legyā (“silt, sediment”) (compare Welsh llai, Old Breton leh (“deposit, silt”)), from P

1 source section · 7 relationship mentions

leese

From Middle English lesen, from Old English lēosan, from Proto-West Germanic *leusan, from Proto-Germanic *leusaną (“to lose”), from Proto-Indo-European *lews- (“to cut; sever; separate; loosen; lose”).

3 source sections · 14 relationship mentions

leesy

From lees + -y.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

leet

From Scots leet, leit, of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Old French lite, litte, variant of liste (“list”); or from Old Norse leiti, hleyti (“a share, portion”) (compare Old English hlēt (“share, lot”)); or an aphaeretic

6 source sections · 11 relationship mentions

lefse

From Norwegian lefse.

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

left

From Middle English left, luft, leoft, lift, lyft, from Old English left, lyft (“weak, clumsy, foolish”), attested in Old English lyftādl (“palsy, paralysis”), from Proto-Germanic *luft-, from *lubjaną (“to castrate, lop

3 source sections · 22 relationship mentions

lefty

Etymology tree English left Proto-Germanic *-j-, *-ij- Proto-West Germanic *-i, *-ī Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English lefty From left + -y (nominal suffix).

2 source sections · 0 relationship mentions

leg

From Middle English leg, legge, from Old Norse leggr (“leg, calf, bone of the arm or leg, hollow tube, stalk”), from Proto-Germanic *lagjaz, *lagwijaz (“leg, thigh”) (see it for more). Cognate with Scots leg (“leg”), Ice

2 source sections · 22 relationship mentions

legal

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *lḗǵs? Proto-Indo-European *legʰ- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *lḗgʰs? Proto-Italic *lēks Latin lex Proto-Indo-European

1 source section · 3 relationship mentions

legat

Syllabic abbreviation of legal attaché.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lege

Abbreviated from allege (“to assert”).

2 source sections · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

leger

Borrowed from Middle French legier, from Old French legier, apparently from Late Latin *leviārium, from levis (“light in weight”). See levity.

2 source sections · 2 relationship mentions

leggy

Etymology tree English leg Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English leggy From leg + -y.

2 source sections · 0 relationship mentions

legit

Clipping of legitimate or legitimately.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

legua

From Spanish legua (“Spanish league”) and Portuguese légua (“Portuguese league”), from Late Latin leuga and leuca (“Gaulish league, distance of one hour's walking”), from Gaulish, from Proto-Celtic *lougā. Doublet of lea

1 source section · 3 relationship mentions

leh

From Hokkien 咧 (--leh, “declarative particle used for emphasis; interrogative particle used to express doubt”).

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lehua

From Hawaiian lehua.

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

lei

Borrowed from Hawaiian lei.

2 source sections · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

leied

From lei + -ed.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

leigh

From Middle English legh, lege, lei (“clearing, open ground”) from Old English lēah (“clearing in a forest”) from Proto-Germanic *lauhaz (“meadow”), from Proto-Indo-European *lówkos (“field, meadow”). Akin to Old Frisian

1 source section · 10 relationship mentions

leint

18th century.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lek

From Germanic roots meaning "play". In the biology sense, it comes specifically from Swedish lek (“child's play”), by means of Swedish leka (“to play”). The verb is first attested in English in 1871 and the noun at least

2 source sections · 3 relationship mentions

lekku

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lel

Miscellaneously substituted vowel instead of the 'o' in lol.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lema

First coined 1789, from Ancient Greek λήμη (lḗmē, “substance that gathers in the corner of the eye; rheum”).

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

leman

From Middle English lemman, variant of leofman, from Old English *lēofmann ("lover; sweetheart"; attested as a personal name), equivalent to lief + man ("beloved person"). In the past, incorrectly asserted to derive from

1 source section · 5 relationship mentions

leme

From Middle English leem, leme, leam, from Old English lēoma (“light, brightness”); akin to light.

1 source section · 2 relationship mentions

lemel

From Middle English lymail, from Anglo-Norman limaille, from Latin limare, a form of limo (“to file”); see further there.

1 source section · 2 relationship mentions

lemma

Borrowed from Ancient Greek λῆμμᾰ (lêmmă, “premise, assumption”), from the same root as λᾰμβᾰ́νω (lămbắnō, “to take”).

2 source sections · 2 relationship mentions

lemme

Written form of a reduction of let me.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lemon

Inherited from Middle English lymon, from Old French lymon (“citrus”), from Arabic لَيْمُون (laymūn) or Classical Persian لِیمُون (līmūn), a variant of Classical Persian لِیمُو (līmū, līmō), from Sanskrit निम्बू (nimbū,

2 source sections · 12 relationship mentions

lemur

From Latin lemurēs (“spirits of the dead”). The name was originally given to the red slender loris (then Lemur tardigradus) in 1754 by Carl Linnaeus. According to Linnaeus, the name was selected because of the nocturnal

1 source section · 1 relationship mention

lend

From earlier len (with excrescent -d, as in sound), from Middle English lenen, lænen, from Old English lǣnan (“to lend; give, grant, lease”), from Proto-West Germanic *laihnijan, from Proto-Germanic *laihnijaną (“to loan

2 source sections · 31 relationship mentions

lene

Anglicisation of Latin lēnis. Doublet of lenis.

1 source section · 2 relationship mentions

lenga

From Mapudungun lenga, via Spanish.

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

lenis

Borrowed from Latin lēnis (“soft, smooth”).

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lenj

From Persian لنج or Gulf Arabic لَنْج.

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

leno

From French linon (“lawn (linen fabric)”), from lin (“linen; flax”) + -on.

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

lenos

From Ancient Greek ληνός (lēnós).

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

lens

Etymology tree substratebor.? Medieval Latin lēnsbor. English lens Borrowed from Latin lēns (“lentil”), with Medieval Latin later taking on the sense of “lens”, a semantic loan from Arabic عَدَسَة (ʕadasa, “lentil; optic

2 source sections · 4 relationship mentions

lento

Borrowed from Italian lento.

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

leobo

From Tswana leobo.

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

lep

Short for Lepidoptera.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lepak

Borrowed from Malay lepak.

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

lepal

From Ancient Greek λεπίς (lepís, “scale (of a fish); flake”); compare French lépale.

1 source section · 2 relationship mentions

lepas

From the genus name.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

leper

From Middle English lepre, leprosy, from Old French [Term?], from Latin leprae, lepra, from Ancient Greek λέπρα (lépra).

1 source section · 3 relationship mentions

lepid

Latin lepidus.

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

leppy

From Spanish lepra (“leprosy”).

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

lepra

From Latin lepra (“psoriasis & similar skin diseases”), from Koine Greek λέπρα (lépra, “psoriasis & similar skin diseases”), from λεπρός (leprós, “scaly”), from either λεπίς (lepís, “scale”) or λέπος (lépos, “husk, scale

1 source section · 2 relationship mentions

lerp

Borrowed from Wemba-Wemba lerep.

2 source sections · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lesbo

Etymology tree English lesb(ian) Latin ō Old French ohbor. Middle English o English O ▲ Middle English o English oh English -o English lesbo From lesb(ian) + -o.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions

leshy

From Russian ле́ший (léšij).

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

lesk

Inherited from Middle English leske, probably from Old Norse ljóski, from Proto-Germanic *leuskô, though note Mercian Old English lēsca. Cognate with Swedish ljumske, Danish lyske.

1 source section · 5 relationship mentions

less

Adverb from Middle English les, lesse, leasse, lasse, from Old English lǣs (“smaller, less”), from Proto-Germanic *laisiz, from Proto-Indo-European *leys- (“to shrink, grow thin, be gentle”). Cognate with Old Frisian lēs

2 source sections · 17 relationship mentions

lest

c. 1200, contracted from Middle English les te (“less that”), from Old English þȳ lǣs þe (“whereby less that”), from þȳ (instrumental case of demonstrative article þæt (“that”)) + lǣs (“less”) + þe (“that,” relative part

1 source section · 2 relationship mentions

les🫘

From lesbian, with bian or bians replaced with 🫘, an emoji depicting beans, based on their similar pronunciation.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

let

Derived from Middle English leten, læten, from Old English lǣtan (“to allow, let go, bequeath, leave, rent”), from Proto-West Germanic *lātan, from Proto-Germanic *lētaną (“to leave behind, allow”), from Proto-Indo-Europ

2 source sections · 27 relationship mentions

let's

Contraction of let us. Compare non-contracted Dutch laat ons, German lass uns (speaker with one other person) / lasst uns (speaker with more other persons) and Swedish låt oss.

1 source section · 3 relationship mentions

letch

See lech, lecher.

2 source sections · 1 relationship mention · brief record

lethe

From Latin Lēthē, from Ancient Greek Λήθη (Lḗthē, “forgetfulness”).

2 source sections · 3 relationship mentions

letup

Deverbal from let up.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

leu

Borrowed from Romanian leu (“lion”), from Latin leō (“lion”). Doublet of Leo, lev, lion, and Lyon.

1 source section · 6 relationship mentions

leuco

From Ancient Greek λευκός (leukós, “white”).

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

leud

1750, from Medieval Latin leudēs pl (“vassals or followers of the king”), from Frankish *liudi (“people”), from Proto-Germanic *liudiz (“people”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁léwdʰis (“man, people”). Cognate with Old Hig

1 source section · 8 relationship mentions

lev

Borrowed from Bulgarian лев (lev), a variant of лъв (lăv, “lion”). Doublet of Leo, leu, lion, and Lyon.

1 source section · 5 relationship mentions

levee

From French levée, from lever (“to raise, rise”).

2 source sections · 2 relationship mentions

level

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *leyH-der. Proto-Indo-European *-dʰromder. Proto-Italic *līðrā? Latin lībra Proto-Indo-European *-lós Proto-Indo-European *-elós Proto-Italic *-elos Latin -la Latin libella Old French l

2 source sections · 12 relationship mentions

leven

See eleven.

3 source sections · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lever

From Middle English lever, levore, levour, from Old French leveor, leveur (“a lifter, lever (also Old French and French levier)”), from Latin levātor (“a lifter”), from levō (“to raise”). Doublet of levator.

3 source sections · 11 relationship mentions

levet

Compare French lever (“to raise”).

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

levin

From Middle English levene. Spellings in Middle English and Early Modern English include leven, levin, levyn, leiven, and leyven. The earlier etymology is less clear. It is thought to be related to Gothic 𐌻𐌰𐌿𐌷𐌼𐌿𐌽�

1 source section · 3 relationship mentions

levir

Borrowed from Late Latin lēvir.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

levo-

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *leh₂iwosder. Latin laevus English levo- From Latin laevus (“left”).

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

levy

From Anglo-Norman leve, from Old French levee, from lever (“to raise”), from Latin lēvāre (“to raise, lift”).

2 source sections · 2 relationship mentions

lew

From corruption of French louis, from Louis, presumably Louis IX or Louis XI, who issued gold écus.

5 source sections · 13 relationship mentions

lewd

From Middle English lewed, lewd, leued (“unlearned, lay, lascivious”), from Old English lǣwede (“unlearned, ignorant, lay”), of uncertain origin. Formally similar to a derivative of the past participle of Old English lǣw

1 source section · 10 relationship mentions

lewis

From Middle English lewis, of uncertain origin. Possibly from Old French lous, plural of lou, loup (“the name of a kind of siege engine”, literally “wolf”); or related to clevis.

1 source section · 2 relationship mentions

lewk

Respelling of look. The slang sense was popularized around 2010 by fashion stylist Brad Goreski on the reality television series The Rachel Zoe Project.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions

lewth

From Middle English leuþe, from Old English hlēowþ, corresponding to lew + -th (abstract nominal suffix).

1 source section · 2 relationship mentions

lex

Clipping of lexical (analysis).

2 source sections · 0 relationship mentions

lexer

From lex + -er, ultimately from lexical.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lexi-

Derived from lexis, a borrowing from Latin lexis, itself from Ancient Greek λέξις (léxis).

1 source section · 2 relationship mentions

lexie

From the French lexie, originating in the writings of Roland Barthes. Further from Ancient Greek λέξῐς (léxĭs, “a saying, a word”).

1 source section · 2 relationship mentions

lexis

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *leǵ-der. Proto-Indo-European *léǵ-e-ti Proto-Hellenic *légō Ancient Greek λέγω (légō) Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Hellenic *-tis Ancient Greek -τῐς (-tĭs) Ancient Greek -σῐς (-sĭs)

1 source section · 1 relationship mention

lexon

From lexis + -on.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

ley

See lea.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

leyak

From Balinese leyak (“black magic; sorcerer”).

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

leyn

From Yiddish לייענען (leyenen, “to read”).

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

lezh

From l + ezh.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lezzo

Shortened alteration of lesbian, + -o.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

li

An early romanization of Chinese Mandarin 里 (lǐ). As a Korean unit, via the Yale romanization of Korean 리 (ri), from the Chinese distance.

5 source sections · 5 relationship mentions

li'l

Contracted from little, especially as pronounced with flapping, when the /t/ is barely audible.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

liage

Compare Old French liage (“a bond”). See liable.

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

liana

From French liane (see that entry for more), influenced by lien (“link, bond”).

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

liang

The atonal Wade-Giles and pinyin romanization of the standard Mandarin pronunciation of Chinese 兩 /两 (liǎng). Doublet of leung and yang.

1 source section · 3 relationship mentions

liao

Borrowed from Hokkien 了 (liáu) and Teochew 了 (liao²), with tone and spelling influenced by Mandarin 了 (liǎo) and its romanization in Hanyu Pinyin.

2 source sections · 4 relationship mentions

liar

Inherited from Middle English lier, liere, lyere, liȝer, lieȝer, legher, from Old English lēgere, lēogere (“liar, false witness, hypocrite”), from Proto-West Germanic *leugārī, from Proto-Germanic *leugārijaz (“liar”), f

1 source section · 6 relationship mentions

liard

From French liard, of unknown origin.

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

lias

Originally dialectal, from Old French liois (“compact limestone”) (French liais), from Medieval Latin liae, plural of lia; doublet of lees (which is via Latin lias). Ultimate origin uncertain, possibly a Celtic word (suc

1 source section · 5 relationship mentions

lib

Abbreviation for various words beginning in lib-.

3 source sections · 13 relationship mentions

libbu

From liberal.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

libel

From Middle English libel, from Old French libelle, from Latin libellus (“petition”, literally “booklet”). Doublet of libelle.

1 source section · 5 relationship mentions

liber

Learned borrowing from Latin liber (“the inner bark of a tree; book”). See libel.

1 source section · 2 relationship mentions

libra

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *leyH-der. Proto-Indo-European *-dʰromder. Proto-Italic *līðrā? Latin librabor. Italian librabor. Spanish librabor. Portuguese librabor. English libra From Latin lībra (“pound”), partia

1 source section · 10 relationship mentions

libre

The obsolete “unconstrained” sense is borrowed from French libre (“at liberty”; “free” as in “clear”, “vacant”, “without obligation”), from Latin līber (“free, unrestricted”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁lewdʰ

1 source section · 4 relationship mentions

libry

Haplology of library.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lice

From Middle English lys, from Old English lȳs.

1 source section · 2 relationship mentions

licey

From lice + -y.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

lich

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līką Proto-West Germanic *līk Old English līċ Middle English lich English lich Inherited from Middle English lich, from Old English līċ, from Proto-West Germa

2 source sections · 2 relationship mentions

lichi

Borrowed from Spanish lichi, from Hokkien 荔枝 (lē-chi).

1 source section · 2 relationship mentions

licit

From Latin licitus (“lawful”), perfect participle of licet (“[it] is permitted”, impersonal verb).

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

lick

From Middle English likken, from Old English liccian, from Proto-West Germanic *likkōn, from Proto-Germanic *likkōną (“to lick”), from Proto-Indo-European *leyǵʰ- (“to lick”). Sense evolution towards violence unclear; no

2 source sections · 35 relationship mentions

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These source reports extend Wiktionary’s work through Kaikki / Wiktextract, with attribution and visible extraction limits. A relationship mentioned in a source is not automatically the immediate parent of a word. Newly written research analyses cite their own references. The reviewed graph has a separate evidence contract and counter.

The full multilingual corpus remains local; this directory covers only the bounded English slice. See exactly what has been acquired and published →