Where does “love” come from?
Love descends from Old English lōf, which derives from Proto-Indo-European lāp-, ultimately tracing to the Proto-Indo-European root h₂éwis.
love (English): Strong affection; A person who is the object of...
Definitions
- Strong affection; A person who is the object of...
Ancestry of “love”, step by step
love traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Love
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Love | radiotelephony clear-code word for the letter L |
| 2 | Middle English | love | love; strong and deep affection |
| 3 | Old English | lufu | love |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | *lubu | love |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | lubō | love, affection |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | lewbʰ- | to desire, covet, want; to admire, praise; to... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | lēw- | to sound, resound, sing out; to leave |
via Middle English luve
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | luve | Alternative form of love |