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

  1. The most little; the smallest amount or quantity...

Ancestry of “least”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishlestelast; final
2Old Englishlǣst—
3Proto-Germaniclaisistazsmallest; least

Words derived from “least”

Every word from Proto-Germanic laisistaz →Every word from Old English lǣst →Every word from Middle English leste →