Where does “light-handed” come from?
light-handed (English) comes from Middle English light-handid, from Middle English light, from Old English lēoht, from Proto-West Germanic leuht, from Proto-Germanic leuhtą, from Proto-Indo-European lewktom, from Proto-Indo-European lewk- — bright; to shine; to see.
light-handed (English): Gentle; benign and with minimal intervention;...
Definitions
- Gentle; benign and with minimal intervention;...
Ancestry of “light-handed”, step by step
light-handed traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English light-handid
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | light-handid | — |
| 2 | Middle English | light | The radiation which allows for vision by... |
| 3 | Old English | lēoht | luminous, bright, light, clear, resplendent,... |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | leuht | light, bright; light |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | leuhtą | light |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | lewktom | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | lewk- | bright; to shine; to see |
via Middle English light-honded
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | light-honded | — |