Where does “breathlike” come from?

breathlike (English) comes from English like, from Dutch luik, from Middle Dutch luke, from Dutch luiken, from Middle Dutch luken, from Old Dutch lūcan, from Proto-West Germanic lūkan, from Proto-Germanic lūkaną — to break, tear; to break, shatter.

breathlike (English): Resembling or characteristic of breath

Definitions

  1. Resembling or characteristic of breath

Ancestry of “breathlike”, step by step

breathlike traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English like

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlikeTo enjoy, be pleased by; favor; be in favor of;...
2Dutchluikhatch; shutter; panel, as in a triptych
3Middle Dutchluke
4Dutchluikento close, to shut
5Middle Dutchlukento close, to shut; to close, to become closed
6Old Dutchlūcanto close, shut
7Proto-West Germaniclūkanto close, to shut
8Proto-Germaniclūkanąto close, to shut; Alternative form of *leukaną
9Proto-Indo-Europeanlewǵ-to break, tear; to break, shatter

via English breath

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbreathThe act or process of breathing; A single act of...
2Middle Englishbreethbreath
3Old Englishbrǣþodor, scent, stink, exhalation, vapor
4Proto-Germanicbrēþizvapour; steam; breath; odour, smell
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰrē-t-exhalation from heat; steam
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰer-to bear, carry
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewǵ-Every word from Proto-Germanic lūkanąEvery word from Proto-West Germanic lūkan