Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “leaning” come from?

Leaning derives from English lean, which comes from Icelandic leyna and Old Norse leyna, traced through Proto-Germanic laugnijaną to Proto-Indo-European ḱley- and ultimately ḱel-.

leaning (English): A tendency or propensity; present participle of...

Definitions

  1. A tendency or propensity; present participle of...

Ancestry of “leaning”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishlening—
2Old Englishhlinungleaning; resting; place of rest

Words derived from “leaning”

  • leaningly
Every word from Old English hlinung →