Where does “overleaf” come from?

Overleaf comes from Middle English over and leef, from Old English lēaf meaning "leaf" or "page," from Proto-Germanic laubą, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European lewbʰ-.

overleaf (English): On the other side of a page

Definitions

  1. On the other side of a page

Ancestry of “overleaf”, step by step

overleaf traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English over

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishoverDiscontinued; ended or concluded; Thoroughly;...
2Middle Englishoverriverbank, seashore, brink
3Old Englishōferriverbank, seashore, brink, edge, margin, border
4Proto-West Germanicobarover, above
5Proto-Germanicuberover; over, above
6Proto-Indo-Europeanupérabove; over
7Proto-Indo-Europeanupóunder, below
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃ewp-

via English leaf

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishleafThe usually green and flat organ that represents...
2Old EnglishLeofa
3Old Englishlēoflief, dear
4West Germanic*leub
5Proto-Germanicleubazdear, beloved
6Proto-Indo-Europeanlewbʰ-to desire, covet, want; to admire, praise; to...
7Proto-Indo-Europeanlēw-to sound, resound, sing out; to leave
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃ewp-
overleaf — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer