Where does “Light” come from?
Light (English) comes from Middle English light, from Old English lēoht, from Proto-West Germanic leuht, from Proto-Germanic leuhtą, from Proto-Indo-European lewktom, from Proto-Indo-European lewk- — bright; to shine; to see.
Ancestry of “Light”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | light | The radiation which allows for vision by... |
| 2 | Old English | lēoht | luminous, bright, light, clear, resplendent,... |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | leuht | light, bright; light |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | leuhtą | light |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | lewktom | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | lewk- | bright; to shine; to see |