lust etymology

English word lust comes from Proto-Germanic *lausaz, Proto-Indo-European *ḱer-, Proto-Germanic - þuz, and later Proto-Germanic *lustuz (Lust, desire, want.)

Detailed word origin of lust

Dictionary entryLanguageDefinition
*lausaz Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) (in compounds) -less, lacking, devoid of. Empty, devoid. False, untrue. Loose, free.
*ḱer- Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro)
- þuz Proto-Germanic (gem-pro)
*ḱlewe- Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) to hear
*lustuz Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) Lust, desire, want.
*hlustiz Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) Ear, ear opening. Hearing.
lust Old English (ang) Desire, pleasure, appetite, lust.
hlyst Old English (ang) Listening. The sense of hearing (one of the five senses).
lust Middle English (enm)
lust English (eng) (archaic) A delightful cause of joy, pleasure.. (archaic) A general want or longing, not necessarily sexual.. (obsolete) virility; vigour; active power. A feeling of strong desire, especially such a feeling driven by sexual arousal. (intransitive, usually in the phrase "lust after") To look at or watch with a strong desire, especially of a sexual nature.

Words with the same origin as lust

Descendants of *lausaz
careless endless express expression harmless helpless homeless hopeless lease list loose loosen lose loss meaningless pointless reckless regardless release restless ruthless shameless useless worthless
Descendants of *ḱer-
corn corner course create creation current elegant exact execution exist exit expect experience experiment harry her here hire ho horn horny rap rape shrink whore
Descendants of - þuz
blast draft enlist slight thread waist waste wasteland yeast