levin

levin · noun, verb¹

1. substrate · derived from
2. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*lewk-“bright, to shine”
3. Middle English · inherited fromlevene
4. English todaylevin

From Middle English levene. Spellings in Middle English and Early Modern English include leven, levin, levyn, leiven, and leyven. The earlier etymology is less clear. It is thought to be related to Gothic 𐌻𐌰𐌿𐌷𐌼𐌿𐌽𐌹 (lauhmuni, q.v. for more), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *lewk- (“bright, to shine”). Possibly a regular reflex, or a North Germanic loan, or perhaps from a lost substrate.

Levin · proper noun²

1. Biblical Hebrew · derived fromלֵוִי“Levi”
2. Russian · borrowed fromЛевин
3. English todayLevin

From Russian Левин (Levin), from Леви (Levi) + -ин (-in, “forming possessives & adjectives”), ultimately from Biblical Hebrew לֵוִי (“Levi”), of uncertain origin. Doublet of Levine.

Words from the same roots