Where does “least” come from?
Least comes from Middle English lest, Old English læst, Proto-Germanic lastiz, and Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to load or carry.
least (English): The most little; the smallest amount or quantity...
Definitions
- The most little; the smallest amount or quantity...
Ancestry of “least”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | leste | last; final |
| 2 | Old English | lǣst | — |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | laisistaz | smallest; least |
Words derived from “least”