Etymology Explorer › Icelandic

Where does “lífsspursmál” come from?

lífsspursmál (Icelandic) comes from Icelandic líf, from Old Norse líf, from Proto-Germanic lībą, from Proto-Germanic lībaną, from Proto-Indo-European leyp-, from Proto-Indo-European lēy- — to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...

lífsspursmál (Icelandic): matter of life and death, something very urgent...

Definitions

  1. matter of life and death, something very urgent...

Ancestry of “lífsspursmál”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Icelandiclíflife; an individual’s way of living or experience...
2Old Norselíflife
3Proto-Germaniclībąbody; life
4Proto-Germaniclībanąto remain, to be left
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- →