Where does “late” come from?

Late comes from Middle English late, from Old English læt, from Proto-Germanic lataz, from Proto-Indo-European lē(y)d-, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European leh₁d-.

late (English): Near the end of a period of time; Specifically,...

Definitions

  1. Near the end of a period of time; Specifically,...

Ancestry of “late”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishlateManner; behaviour; outward appearance or aspect;...
2Old Englishlateslow(ly)
3Old Englishlætslow; slack, lax, negligent; late
4Proto-Germaniclētazfreeman; bondsman; serf
5Proto-Germaniclētanąto let, to allow; to leave alone
6Proto-Indo-Europeanleh₁d-to be tired

Words derived from “late”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European leh₁d- →Every word from Proto-Germanic lētaną →Every word from Proto-Germanic lētaz →