Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “liten” come from?

liten (Middle English) comes from Old Norse hlíta, from Proto-Indo-European ḱley-, from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- — to cover; to incline.

liten (Middle English): to dye

Definitions

  1. to dye

Ancestry of “liten”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norsehlítato rely on, trust, abide by; to rely on, trust
2Proto-Indo-Europeanḱley-to shelter, cover; to lean, slope, incline
3Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline

Words derived from “liten”

  • litster
  • litestere
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- →