Where does “leofman” come from?

leofman (Middle English) comes from Old English lēofmann, from Old English lēof, from West Germanic *leub, from Proto-Germanic leubaz, from Proto-Indo-European lewbʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European lēw- — to sound, resound, sing out; to leave.

leofman (Middle English): A lover, sweetheart or beloved

Definitions

  1. A lover, sweetheart or beloved

Ancestry of “leofman”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishlēofmanna lover; sweetheart
2Old Englishlēoflief, dear
3West Germanic*leub—
4Proto-Germanicleubazdear, beloved
5Proto-Indo-Europeanlewbʰ-to desire, covet, want; to admire, praise; to...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanlēw-to sound, resound, sing out; to leave
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lēw- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewbʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic leubaz →