Where does “-lich” come from?

-lich (Middle English) comes from Old English -līc, from Proto-Germanic -līkaz, from Proto-Germanic līką, from Proto-Indo-European leyǵ- — to bind, tie.

-lich (Middle English): Alternative form of -liche

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of -liche

Ancestry of “-lich”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old English-līcadjective-forming suffix meaning 'like' or 'relating to
2Proto-Germanic-līkaz-like, -ly
3Proto-Germaniclīkąbody; corpse, dead body; leech-line, bolt-rope
4Proto-Indo-Europeanleyǵ-to bind, tie
Every word from Proto-Indo-European leyǵ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic līką →Every word from Proto-Germanic -līkaz →