Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “licherous” come from?

licherous (Middle English) comes from Old French lecherous, from Old French licherie, from Old French lechier, from Vulgar Latin *liccāre, from Proto-West Germanic likkōn, from Proto-Germanic lekaną, from Proto-Indo-European leg- — to leak.

Ancestry of “licherous”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchlecherous—
2Old Frenchlicheriegluttony, sensuality, lewdness, lechery
3Old Frenchlechier—
4Vulgar Latin*liccāre—
5Proto-West Germaniclikkōnto lick
6Proto-GermaniclekanąTo leak; seep; drip
7Proto-Indo-Europeanleg-to leak

Words derived from “licherous”

  • lecherous
  • lecherously
  • lecherousness
  • unlecherous
Every word from Proto-Indo-European leg- →