Where does “lecherous” come from?

lecherous (Old French) comes from Old French licherie, from Old French lechier, from Vulgar Latin *liccāre, from Proto-West Germanic likkōn, from Proto-Germanic lekaną, from Proto-Indo-European leg- — to leak.

Ancestry of “lecherous”, step by step

lecherous traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old French licherie

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchlicheriegluttony, sensuality, lewdness, lechery
2Old Frenchlechier—
3Vulgar Latin*liccāre—
4Proto-West Germaniclikkōnto lick
5Proto-GermaniclekanąTo leak; seep; drip
6Proto-Indo-Europeanleg-to leak

via Old French lecherie

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchlecheriedebauchery; lechery
2Old Frenchlecher—

Words derived from “lecherous”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European leg- →Every word from Proto-Germanic lekaną →Every word from Proto-West Germanic likkōn →
lecherous — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer