Where does “latest” come from?

latest (Old English) comes from Old English læt, from Proto-Germanic lētaz, from Proto-Germanic lētaną, from Proto-Indo-European leh₁d- — to be tired.

Ancestry of “latest”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishlætslow; slack, lax, negligent; late
2Proto-Germaniclētazfreeman; bondsman; serf
3Proto-Germaniclētanąto let, to allow; to leave alone
4Proto-Indo-Europeanleh₁d-to be tired
Every word from Proto-Indo-European leh₁d-Every word from Proto-Germanic lētanąEvery word from Proto-Germanic lētaz
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