Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “lainen” come from?

lainen (Middle English) comes from Old Norse leyna, from Proto-Germanic laugnijaną, from Proto-Germanic laugnō — secrecy.

Ancestry of “lainen”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norseleynato conceal
2Proto-Germaniclaugnijanąto conceal; gainsay; deny
3Proto-Germaniclaugnōsecrecy

Words derived from “lainen”

  • lain
Every word from Proto-Germanic laugnō →