Etymology Explorer › Old Dutch

Where does “līf” come from?

līf (Old Dutch) comes from Proto-West Germanic līb, 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

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-West Germaniclībbody; life
2Proto-Germaniclībąbody; life
3Proto-Germaniclībanąto remain, to be left
4Proto-Indo-Europeanleyp-to stick; fat or sticky substance
5Proto-Indo-Europeanlēy-to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...

Words derived from “līf”

  • inlijving
  • inlijven
  • achterlijf
  • lijfspreuk
  • lijfsgemeenschap
  • lijfeigen
  • lijfeigene
  • lijfeigenschap
  • keurslijf
  • lijfwacht
  • lijf
  • lijfsbehoud
  • lijf
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lēy- →