Where does “loveli” come from?
loveli (Middle English) comes from Old English luflīċ, from Proto-Germanic leubalīkaz, from Proto-Germanic leubaz, from Proto-Indo-European lewbʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European lēw- — to sound, resound, sing out; to leave.
Ancestry of “loveli”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | luflīċ | worthy of love; lovable |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | leubalīkaz | lovely |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | leubaz | dear, beloved |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | lewbʰ- | to desire, covet, want; to admire, praise; to... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | lēw- | to sound, resound, sing out; to leave |