Where does “lithe” come from?
Lithe comes from Old English lēoht, from Proto-Germanic līþaną, from Proto-Indo-European h₂el- and ḱel-, roots of unclear original sense.
lithe (English): To go; Mild; calm; Slim but not skinny
Definitions
- To go; Mild; calm; Slim but not skinny
Ancestry of “lithe”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | liþe | Alternative form of lyth |
| 2 | Old English | līþe | mild; gentle, mild, pliable, limber; gentle, mild |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | linþ(ī) | gentle |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | linþaz | bendsome; flexible; pliable; supple; weak; soft;... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | léntos | — |
Words derived from “lithe”