Where does “later” come from?

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

later (English): comparative form of late: more late; Afterward in...

Definitions

  1. comparative form of late: more late; Afterward in...

Ancestry of “later”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishlater—
2Old Englishlætra—
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 “later”

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