Where does “только” come from?

только (Russian) comes from Old East Slavic толико, from Proto-Slavic toliko, from Proto-Slavic -liko, from Albanian lik, from Proto-Albanian lika, from Proto-Indo-European leikʷ — to leave, to remain.

только (Russian): only, but

Definitions

  1. only, but

Ancestry of “только”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old East Slavicтоликоthat much, so, so much, as much, this much
2Proto-Slavictolikothis much/many; neuter of *tolikъ
3Proto-Slavic-liko—
4Albanianlik—
5Proto-Albanianlika—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanleikʷto leave, to remain
Every word from Proto-Indo-European leikʷ →Every word from Proto-Slavic -liko →Every word from Proto-Slavic toliko →