Where does “leven” come from?
leven (Dutch) comes from Middle Dutch lēven, from Old Dutch libben, from Proto-West Germanic libbjan, from Proto-Germanic libjaną, from Proto-Indo-European leyp-, from Proto-Indo-European lēy- — to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...
leven (Dutch): to live; life
Definitions
- to live; life
Ancestry of “leven”, step by step
leven traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle Dutch lēven
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle Dutch | lēven | to live, to be alive |
| 2 | Old Dutch | libben | to live |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | libbjan | to live, to be alive |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | libjaną | to live, to be alive |
| 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... |
via Dutch wijze
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dutch | wijze | manner, mode, way, method; melody; mood of speech |