Etymology Explorer › Old English

Where does “oferlæfan” come from?

oferlæfan (Old English) comes from Old English lǣfan, from Frankish laibijan, from Proto-Germanic laibijaną, from Proto-Germanic lībaną, from Proto-Indo-European leyp-, from Proto-Indo-European lēy- — to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...

oferlæfan (Old English): to leave over; not consume; to be left over

Definitions

  1. to leave over; not consume; to be left over

Ancestry of “oferlæfan”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishlǣfanto leave
2Frankishlaibijanto leave; to leave behind
3Proto-Germaniclaibijanąto leave behind, to leave remaining
4Proto-Germaniclībanąto remain, to be left
5Proto-Indo-Europeanleyp-to stick; fat or sticky substance
6Proto-Indo-Europeanlēy-to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lēy- →