Where does “līf” come from?
līf (Middle High German) comes from Old High German līf, from Proto-Germanic lībą, from Proto-Germanic lībaną, from Proto-Indo-European leyp-, from Proto-Indo-European lēy- — to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...
Ancestry of “līf”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old High German | līf | — |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | lībą | body; life |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | lībaną | to remain, to be left |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | leyp- | to stick; fat or sticky substance |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | lēy- | to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave... |