Where does “late” come from?

late (Middle English) comes from Old English late, from Old English læt, from Proto-Germanic lētaz, from Proto-Germanic lētaną, from Proto-Indo-European leh₁d- — to be tired.

late (Middle English): Manner; behaviour; outward appearance or aspect;...

Definitions

  1. Manner; behaviour; outward appearance or aspect;...

Ancestry of “late”, step by step

late traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old English late

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishlateslow(ly)
2Old Englishlætslow; slack, lax, negligent; late
3Proto-Germaniclētazfreeman; bondsman; serf
4Proto-Germaniclētanąto let, to allow; to leave alone
5Proto-Indo-Europeanleh₁d-to be tired

via Old Norse lát

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norselátsound, behaviour; conduct, demeanour, voice,...
2Proto-Germaniclētijąbehaviour
3Proto-Indo-Europeanlēid-—

Words derived from “late”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European leh₁d- →