light etymology

Middle English word light comes from Proto-Indo-European *lewk-, Proto-Indo-European *h₁lengʷʰ-, and later Proto-Germanic *leuhtaz (Light, bright.)

Detailed word origin of light

Dictionary entryLanguageDefinition
*lewk- Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro)
*h₁lengʷʰ- Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro)
*lewktom Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro)
*leuhtaz Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) Light, bright.
*h₁lengʷʰ-tos Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro)
*leuhtą Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) Light.
*linhtaz Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) Light (not heavy).
leoht Old English (ang) Light (illumination).
lēoht Old English (ang)
leoht Middle English (enm)

Words with the same origin as light

Descendants of *lewk-
Monday Monenday illuminaten inlightnen legh lei lemen leoht leome liege lighten liht lihten lihtliche limnen liȝtliche loghe lowe luminem lusk lye lyghtly lynx lyȝ
Descendants of *h₁lengʷʰ-
aboumbren levain liȝt obnubilous obumbren occupacioun offenden offren offrien omisen omitten ostentacioun