Where does “lemman” come from?
lemman (English) comes from Middle English lemman, from Old English lēofmann, from Old English lēof, from West Germanic *leub, from Proto-Germanic leubaz, from Proto-Indo-European lewbʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European lēw- — to sound, resound, sing out; to leave.
lemman (English): Alternative form of leman
Definitions
- Alternative form of leman
Ancestry of “lemman”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | lemman | A lover, sweetheart, especially a secret lover or... |
| 2 | Old English | lēofmann | a lover; sweetheart |
| 3 | Old English | lēof | lief, dear |
| 4 | West Germanic | *leub | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | leubaz | dear, beloved |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | lewbʰ- | to desire, covet, want; to admire, praise; to... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | lēw- | to sound, resound, sing out; to leave |