Middle English word lemen comes from Ancient Greek Ἀλβανοί, Gothic 𐌻𐌰𐌿𐌷𐌰𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽 (To lighten, flash with lightning.), Proto-Indo-European *leuk-
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Ἀλβανοί | Ancient Greek (grc) | |
| 𐌻𐌰𐌿𐌷𐌰𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽 | Gothic (got) | To lighten, flash with lightning. |
| *leuk- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *lewk- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *lewk-mon- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *leuhmô | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Brightness, radiance. Light; lustre. |
| *liuhmijaną | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | To shine. |
| lieman | Old English (ang) | |
| līeman | Old English (ang) | |
| lemen | Middle English (enm) |