English
leaven
Leaven comes from Old French levain, from Latin levō ‘raise’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁léngʰus ‘lightweight’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁léngʰus‘lightweight’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*leɣʷis‘light’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElevis‘light, not heavy’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CElevō‘raise’
- Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CE*levāmenreconstructed
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400levain
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500levayn
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1603–1604leaven
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁léngʰus‘lightweight’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*leɣʷis‘light’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElevis‘light, not heavy’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CElevō‘raise’
- Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CE*levāmenreconstructed
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400levain
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500levayn
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1603–1604leaven
Earliest quotation: c. 1603–1604, William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure: “Duke. No more euasion: We haue with a leauen'd,…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₁lengʷʰ- ‘lightweight’
light, lung, obliterate, 12 more
through Latin levis ‘light, not heavy’
alleviate, oblivion, oblivious, levant, allege, leger, levity, levitation, levitate, levee, 25 more
through Latin levō ‘raise’
relief, relevant, elevator, elevation, relieve, elevate, lever, 20 more
through Middle English levayn
Today it means
noun Any agent used to make dough rise or to have a similar effect on baked goods.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₁léngʰus / leaven