Where does “lain” come from?
Lain comes from Old English licgan, from Proto-Germanic *ligjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- meaning to lie down or recline.
lain (English): past participle of lie; To conceal, keep quiet...
Definitions
- past participle of lie; To conceal, keep quiet...
Ancestry of “lain”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | lainen | — |
| 2 | Old Norse | leyna | to conceal |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | laugnijaną | to conceal; gainsay; deny |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | laugnō | secrecy |