Where does “lew” come from?
lew (Middle English) comes from Old English hlēowe, from Proto-Germanic hlēwaz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱlew-, from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- — to cover; to incline.
lew (Middle English): tepid
Ancestry of “lew”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old English | hlēowe | warm, sunny, sheltered |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | hlēwaz | lukewarm |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱlew- | to hear |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱel- | to cover; to incline |