Where does “lib” come from?

Lib comes from Middle English libben, from Old English libban, from Proto-Germanic libjaną, from Proto-Indo-European leip-, itself from ley-, ultimately from lew-.

lib (English): liberal; liberation; library

Definitions

  1. liberal; liberation; library

Ancestry of “lib”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishlibbe—
2Old Englishlybbdrug, medicine; poison; charm
3Proto-Germanic*lubi—
4Proto-Germaniclubjąwort, herb; poison; love potion
5Proto-Indo-Europeanlewbʰ-to desire, covet, want; to admire, praise; to...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanlēw-to sound, resound, sing out; to leave

Words derived from “lib”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European lēw- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewbʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic lubją →