let的词源

英文词源

let

let: [OE] English has two distinct verbs let, of diametrically opposite meaning, but they are probably ultimately related. The one meaning ‘allow’ goes back to a prehistoric Germanic *lǣt- (source also of German lassen and Dutch laten) which, like the related late, is connected with a range of words denoting ‘slowness’ or ‘weariness’. It therefore appears that the underlying etymological meaning of let is ‘let go of something because one is too tired to hold on to it’.

By the time the verb reached Old English this had developed to ‘leave behind’ and ‘omit to do’, senses now defunct, as well as to ‘allow’. A close relative of the base *lǣt- was *lat-, direct ancestor of English late. From this was formed the Germanic verb *latjan, which gave English its other verb let, meaning ‘prevent’, now largely obsolete except as a noun, in the phrase without let or hindrance or as a tennis term.
=> late

let (v.)

Old English lætan "to allow to remain; let go, leave, depart from; leave undone; to allow; bequeath," also "to rent" (class VII strong verb; past tense let, past participle læten), from Proto-Germanic *letan (cognates: Old Saxon latan, Old Frisian leta, Dutch laten, German lassen, Gothic letan "to leave, let"), from PIE *le- (2) "to let go, slacken" (cognates: Latin lassus "faint, weary," Lithuanian leisti "to let, to let loose;" see lenient). If that derivation is correct, the primary sense would be "let go through weariness, neglect."

Of blood, from late Old English. To let (something) slip originally (1520s) was a reference to hounds on a leash; figurative use from 1540s. To let (someone) off "allow to go unpunished" is from 1814. To let on "reveal, pulge" is from 1725; to let up "cease, stop" is from 1787. Let alone "not to mention" is from 1812.

let (n.)

"stoppage, obstruction" (obsolete unless in legal contracts), late 12c., from archaic verb letten "to hinder," from Old English lettan "hinder, delay," from Proto-Germanic *latjan (cognates: Old Saxon lettian "to hinder," Old Norse letja "to hold back," Old High German lezzen "to stop, check," Gothic latjan "to hinder, make late," Old English læt "sluggish, slow, late"); see late.

中文词源

let：让，出租

来自PIE*le,松开，松手，容许，词源同late,lenient,lassitude.

该词的英语词源请访问趣词词源英文版：let 词源，let 含义。

let：让，允许；听任；假设；出租，租给

来源于史前日耳曼语lat-,也是德语lassen和英语late的词源;隐含有“慢、厌倦的、太累不能再持续而让其走”的意义,进入古英语发展为“搁置在一旁、允许”。作“障碍”时,仅在短语without let or hindrance中出现。

同源词：late 辨异：rent, let rent具有“租出”和“租入”双重意义;let只有“租出”的意义,且仅指“出租房子”。词组/短语：let alone 不管,不干涉;更不用说let loose 放开,放松,释放