Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “leading” come from?

Leading derives from English lead, from Middle English leed, from Old English lǣdan meaning to guide, from Proto-Germanic laidijaną, from Proto-Indo-European h₁lewdʰ-, leyt-, and ley-.

leading (English): present participle of lead; Providing guidance or...

Definitions

  1. present participle of lead; Providing guidance or...

Ancestry of “leading”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishledinge—
2Old Englishlǣdende—
3Proto-Germaniclaidijandz—
4Proto-Germaniclaidijanąto cause to go, to lead
5Proto-Germaniclīþanąto go; pass; to go through
6Proto-Indo-Europeanleyt-to scratch; to leave, die; to go, go forth, die
7Proto-Indo-Europeanlēy-to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...

Words derived from “leading”

  • nonleading
  • leadingly
  • subleading
  • ringleading
  • bandleading
  • interleading
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lēy- →