Etymology Explorer › Middle Dutch

Where does “lēven” come from?

lēven (Middle Dutch) comes from Old Dutch libben, from Proto-West Germanic libbjan, from Proto-Germanic libjaną, from Proto-Indo-European leyp-, from Proto-Indo-European lēy- — to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...

Ancestry of “lēven”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Dutchlibben—
2Proto-West Germaniclibbjanto live, to be alive
3Proto-Germaniclibjanąto live, to be alive
4Proto-Indo-Europeanleyp-to stick; fat or sticky substance
5Proto-Indo-Europeanlēy-to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...

Words derived from “lēven”

  • leve
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lēy- →