Where does “twelve” come from?

twelve (Middle English) comes from Old English twelf, from Proto-Germanic twalif, from Proto-Germanic -lif, from Proto-Indo-European leyp-, from Proto-Indo-European lēy- — to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...

twelve (Middle English): twelve

Definitions

  1. twelve

Ancestry of “twelve”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishtwelftwelve
2Proto-Germanictwaliftwelve
3Proto-Germanic-lifleft over
4Proto-Indo-Europeanleyp-to stick; fat or sticky substance
5Proto-Indo-Europeanlēy-to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...

Words derived from “twelve”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European lēy- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European leyp- →Every word from Proto-Germanic -lif →