Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “enlivening” come from?

Enlivening derives from English enliven, from English life, from Middle English lif, from Old English līf, from Proto-Germanic lībą and lībaną, from Proto-Indo-European lip- and ley-, originally denoting the quality of being alive.

enlivening (English): present participle of enliven

Definitions

  1. present participle of enliven

Ancestry of “enlivening”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishenlivenTo give life or spirit to; to revive or animate;...
2EnglishlifeThe state of organisms preceding their death,...
3Middle Englishlyflife
4Old Englishlīflife, existence; life-time
5Proto-West Germaniclībbody; life
6Proto-Germaniclībąbody; life
7Proto-Germaniclībanąto remain, to be left
8Proto-Indo-Europeanleyp-to stick; fat or sticky substance
9Proto-Indo-Europeanlēy-to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...

Words derived from “enlivening”

  • unenlivening
  • enliveningly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lēy- →