Where does “candlelit” come from?
Candlelit derives from English candle, from Old Norse hlíta, Latin candela, Latin candere meaning "to shine," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European lewk- meaning "light."
candlelit (English): Lit by a candle or candles
Definitions
- Lit by a candle or candles
Ancestry of “candlelit”, step by step
candlelit traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English candle
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | candle | A light source consisting of a wick embedded in a... |
| 2 | Middle English | candel | candle |
| 3 | Old English | candel | candle |
| 4 | Latin | candēla | A light made of wax or tallow; tallow candle or taper |
| 5 | Latin | candeō | to be brilliant, glittering or illuminated; to shine, glitter, glisten; gleam white |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | kandēō | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | kand- | to shine, glow |
via English lit
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | lit | simple past tense and past participle of light;... |
| 2 | Middle English | lit | Alternative form of light |
| 3 | Old English | lȳt | little, few |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | lūtilaz | bent; tending to stoop; crouching; little |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | burgz | fortification, stronghold; city |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰr̥ǵʰ- | — |