Etymology Explorer › Old Irish

Where does “less” come from?

less (Old Irish) comes from Proto-Celtic *lexstus, from Proto-Indo-European h₂lek- — to protect.

less (Old Irish): benefit, profit

Definitions

  1. benefit, profit

Ancestry of “less”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Celtic*lexstus—
2Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂lek-to protect

Words derived from “less”

  • leasaigh
  • leas
  • neamhleasmhar
  • leasmhar
  • leasaitheach
  • féinleas
  • leasaitheoir
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂lek- →