Where does “elf” come from?

elf (German Low German) comes from Middle Low German elvene, from Old Saxon ellevan, from Proto-Germanic ainalif, from Proto-Germanic -lif, from Proto-Indo-European leyp-, from Proto-Indo-European lēy- — to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...

elf (German Low German): eleven

Definitions

  1. eleven

Ancestry of “elf”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Low Germanelvene—
2Old Saxonellevaneleven
3Proto-Germanicainalifeleven
4Proto-Germanic-lifleft over
5Proto-Indo-Europeanleyp-to stick; fat or sticky substance
6Proto-Indo-Europeanlēy-to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lēy- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European leyp- →Every word from Proto-Germanic -lif →
elf — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer