Etymology Explorer › Old English

Where does “libban” come from?

libban (Old English) comes from Proto-West Germanic libbjan, from Proto-Germanic libjaną, from Proto-Indo-European leyp-, from Proto-Indo-European lēy- — to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...

libban (Old English): to live

Definitions

  1. to live

Ancestry of “libban”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-West Germaniclibbjanto live, to be alive
2Proto-Germaniclibjanąto live, to be alive
3Proto-Indo-Europeanleyp-to stick; fat or sticky substance
4Proto-Indo-Europeanlēy-to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...

Words derived from “libban”

  • living
  • live
  • livestock
  • liveth
  • relive
  • livable
  • livest
  • liveness
  • liveable
  • livability
  • unlivable
  • livingness
  • livingly
  • everliving
  • liveability
  • liveborn
  • unliving
  • unliveable
  • overlive
  • LiveScript
  • livity
  • liveaboard
  • livebirth
  • unlive
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lēy- →