Where does “ellef” come from?
ellef (Central Franconian) comes from Middle High German einlif, from Old High German einlif, from Proto-Germanic ainalif, from Proto-Germanic -lif, from Proto-Indo-European leyp-, from Proto-Indo-European lēy- — to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...
ellef (Central Franconian): eleven
Ancestry of “ellef”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle High German | einlif | — |
| 2 | Old High German | einlif | eleven |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | ainalif | eleven |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | -lif | left over |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | leyp- | to stick; fat or sticky substance |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | lēy- | to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave... |