Where does “listnen” come from?
listnen (Middle English) comes from Old English hlysnan, from Proto-Germanic hlusnijaną, from Proto-Germanic hlusēną, from Proto-Indo-European ḱlew-, from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- — to cover; to incline.
Ancestry of “listnen”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | hlysnan | to listen |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | hlusnijaną | — |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | hlusēną | — |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱlew- | to hear |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱel- | to cover; to incline |