English word leave comes from Proto-Indo-European *lōwbʰ-, Proto-Indo-European *loyp-éye-, Proto-Indo-European *lew-, Old English liefan, and later Proto-Germanic *lībaną (To remain, to be left.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *lōwbʰ- | Proto-Indo-European (ine) | |
| *loyp-éye- | Proto-Indo-European (ine) | |
| *lew- | Proto-Indo-European (ine) | to cut, remove, prune, separate, to wash, to cut, to cut, separate, dissolve, to cut away, remove, prune |
| liefan | Old English (ang) | (transitive) to believe; trust; confide in. (transitive) to give leave; grant; allow; consent (intransitive) to be dear or pleasant; delight. |
| *lībaną | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | To remain, to be left. |
| *leubh- | Proto-Indo-European (ine) | to love, love |
| lǣfan | Old English (ang) | |
| læfan | Old English (ang) | To leave. |
| *leubaz | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Dear, beloved. |
| *laubō | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | |
| lēof | Old English (ang) | |
| leof | Old English (ang) | Dear, beloved. |
| *laubijaną | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | To allow. To praise. |
| līefan | Old English (ang) | |
| leve | Middle English (enm) | Leave. |
| leven | Middle English (enm) | |
| leave | English (en) | (intransitive, rare) To produce leaves or foliage. |