English
leaning
Leaning comes from Middle English lening, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *ḱley-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱley-root as named
- Old Englishc. 450–1150hlinung
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500lening
- Englishtodayleaning
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱley-root as named
- Old Englishc. 450–1150hlinung
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500lening
- Englishtodayleaning
Formed from lean + -ing
Proto-Indo-European *ḱley-
Proto-Germanic *hlināną ‘to lean, incline’
Proto-West Germanic *hlinēn ‘to lean’
Old English hleonian ‘to lean, recline, lie down, rest’
Middle English lenen ‘to lean’
English lean
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *ḱley-
law, low, climate, decline, ladder, lid, climax, inclination, eyelid, incline, cline, clinician, proclivity, declination, declension, 26 more
Today it means
noun A tendency or propensity.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *ḱley- / leaning