Etymology Explorer › Middle Dutch

Where does “lijf” come from?

lijf (Middle Dutch) comes from Old Dutch līf, from Proto-West Germanic līb, 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...

lijf (Middle Dutch): body; life; life force

Definitions

  1. body; life; life force

Ancestry of “lijf”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Dutchlīf—
2Proto-West Germaniclībbody; life
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...

Words derived from “lijf”

  • inlijving
  • inlijven
  • achterlijf
  • lijfspreuk
  • lijfsgemeenschap
  • lijfeigen
  • lijfeigene
  • lijfeigenschap
  • keurslijf
  • lijfwacht
  • lijf
  • lijfsbehoud
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lēy- →