Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “lights” come from?

Lights comes from Old English lēoht, from Proto-Germanic liuhtijaną, from Proto-Indo-European lewk-, a root meaning to shine or be bright.

lights (English): plural of light; API pl; The lungs, now chiefly...

Definitions

  1. plural of light; API pl; The lungs, now chiefly...

Ancestry of “lights”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlightVisible electromagnetic radiation. The human eye...
2Middle EnglishlihtAlternative form of light
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 “lights”

  • antilights
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewk- →