Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “light-hearted” come from?

light-hearted (English) comes from English lighthearted, from Middle English lyght hertyd, 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-hearted (English): Alternative spelling of lighthearted

Definitions

  1. Alternative spelling of lighthearted

Ancestry of “light-hearted”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlightheartedJoyful, glad, taking pleasure in being alive; not...
2Middle Englishlyght hertyd—
3Middle EnglishlightThe radiation which allows for vision by...
4Old Englishlēohtluminous, bright, light, clear, resplendent,...
5Proto-West Germanicleuhtlight, bright; light
6Proto-Germanicleuhtąlight
7Proto-Indo-Europeanlewktom—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanlewk-bright; to shine; to see

Words derived from “light-hearted”

  • light-heartedness
  • light-heartedly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewk- →