Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “lastness” come from?

lastness (English) comes from English last, from Middle English last, from Old English hlæst, from Proto-Germanic hlastuz, from Proto-Indo-European kleh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European kelh₂- — to beat; to break.

lastness (English): The quality of being or coming last; finality

Definitions

  1. The quality of being or coming last; finality

Ancestry of “lastness”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlastFinal, ultimate, coming after all others of its...
2Middle Englishlastfault, vice; load
3Old Englishhlæstload, freight, cargo
4Proto-Germanichlastuzload, burden, cargo, freight
5Proto-Indo-Europeankleh₂-to put; to lay out
6Proto-Indo-Europeankelh₂-to beat; to break
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kelh₂- →