Where does “softlifting” come from?

softlifting (English) comes from English shoplifting, from English shoplift, from English shoplifter, from English lifter, from English -er, from Middle English -er, from Old French -er, from Latin -āre — he, she.

softlifting (English): The purchasing of a single licensed copy of a...

Definitions

  1. The purchasing of a single licensed copy of a...

Ancestry of “softlifting”, step by step

softlifting traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English shoplifting

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishshopliftingThe action of stealing goods from a shop; the...
2EnglishshopliftA shoplifter; To steal something from a shop /...
3EnglishshoplifterA person who shoplifts, one who steals from shops
4EnglishlifterSomeone or something that lifts or assists in...
5English-erA person or thing that does an action indicated...
6Middle English-eragentive suffix; agent noun suffix
7Old French-erAlternative form of -ier, verbal suffix;...
8Latin-ārefirst conjugation
9Proto-Italic-āōForms primarily denominative verbs
10Proto-Indo-European-eh₂yétiCreates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive...
11Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
12Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-
13Chichewaiyehe, she

via English software

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsoftwareEncoded computer instructions, usually...
2English-wareUsed to form nouns denoting, collectively, items...
3Middle EnglishwareAlternative form of veir; Alternative form of...
4Old Englishwærcautious, on guard, watching out for something;...
5Proto-West Germanicwārtrue, reliable
6Proto-Germanicwēraztrue; reliable; friendly; kind
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanwiHrósman; husband; warrior, hero
8Proto-Indo-Europeanweyh₁-to chase, pursue; to suppress, persecute
Every word from Chichewa iye
softlifting — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer