Where does “lis'en” come from?

lis'en (English) comes from English listen, from Middle English listenen, from Old English hlysnan, from Proto-Germanic hlusnijaną, from Proto-Germanic hlusēną, from Proto-Indo-European ḱlew-, from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- — to cover; to incline.

Ancestry of “lis'en”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlistenTo pay attention to a sound or speech; To expect...
2Middle Englishlistenen
3Old Englishhlysnanto listen
4Proto-Germanichlusnijaną
5Proto-Germanichlusēną
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱlew-to hear
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱel-Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱlew-Every word from Proto-Germanic hlusēną