Where does “lænen” come from?
lænen (Middle English) comes from Old English lǣnan, from Proto-West Germanic laihnijan, from Proto-Germanic laihnijaną, from Proto-Germanic laihną, from Proto-Indo-European leykʷ- — to leave.
Ancestry of “lænen”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | lǣnan | to lend; give, grant, lease |
| 2 | Proto-West Germanic | laihnijan | to loan, lend |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | laihnijaną | to loan, lend |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | laihną | that which is lent, loan; fief |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | leykʷ- | to leave |