Where does “léif” come from?

léif (Luxembourgish) comes from Middle High German līf, from Old High German līf, 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...

léif (Luxembourgish): nice, lovely, kind, sweet; dear, beloved

Definitions

  1. nice, lovely, kind, sweet; dear, beloved

Ancestry of “léif”, step by step

léif traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Middle High German līf

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle High Germanlīf—
2Old High Germanlīf—
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...

via Old High German liof

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old High Germanliof—
2Proto-Germanicleubazdear, beloved
3Proto-Indo-Europeanlewbʰ-to desire, covet, want; to admire, praise; to...
4Proto-Indo-Europeanlēw-to sound, resound, sing out; to leave
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lēy- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European leyp- →Every word from Proto-Germanic lībaną →