Where does “latest” come from?
Latest comes from Old English latost, superlative of Old English læt, from Proto-Germanic lataz, from Proto-Indo-European lē(y)d-, a variant of Proto-Indo-European leh₁d-.
latest (English): superlative form of late: most late; Last, final;...
Definitions
- superlative form of late: most late; Last, final;...
Ancestry of “latest”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | lateste | latest |
| 2 | Middle English | late | Manner; behaviour; outward appearance or aspect;... |
| 3 | Old English | late | slow(ly) |
| 4 | Old English | læt | slow; slack, lax, negligent; late |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | lētaz | freeman; bondsman; serf |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | lētaną | to let, to allow; to leave alone |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | leh₁d- | to be tired |