Where does “eleven” come from?

eleven (Middle English) comes from Old English endleofan, from Proto-Germanic ainalif, from Proto-Germanic -lif, from Proto-Indo-European leyp-, from Proto-Indo-European lēy- — to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...

eleven (Middle English): Alternative form of elleven

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of elleven

Ancestry of “eleven”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishendleofaneleven
2Proto-Germanicainalifeleven
3Proto-Germanic-lifleft over
4Proto-Indo-Europeanleyp-to stick; fat or sticky substance
5Proto-Indo-Europeanlēy-to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lēy- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European leyp- →Every word from Proto-Germanic -lif →
eleven — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer