Etymology Explorer › Old English

Where does “lystan” come from?

lystan (Old English) comes from Proto-Germanic *lustijan, from Proto-Germanic lustijaną, from Proto-Germanic lustuz, from Proto-Germanic lausaz, from Proto-Indo-European lewH- — louse.

lystan (Old English): to please

Definitions

  1. to please

Ancestry of “lystan”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Germanic*lustijan—
2Proto-Germaniclustijanąto lust, desire
3Proto-Germaniclustuzlust, desire, want
4Proto-Germaniclausazloose, free; empty, devoid; false, untrue
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanlewH-louse

Words derived from “lystan”

  • listen
  • lesten
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewH- →