An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Licht

by Friedrich Kluge

Licht, n., ‘light, luminary, candle,’ from MidHG. licht, OHG. lioht, n., ‘light, lustre, brightness’; corresponding to OSax. lioht, Du. licht, AS. leóht, n., E. light. The dental of the word is a suffix, as is shown by Goth. liuh-aþ (gen. -adis), n., ‘light, sheen.’ OIc. ljós, n., ‘light,’ formed with a different suffix would be in Goth. *liuhs (gen. -sis); they are based on Aryan leukot-, leukt-, and leukos-, leuks-, as a double stem; comp. Sans. rocis, n., Zend raocaṇh (for *rocâs, ‘lustre, light.’ The Aryan root luk, by gradation leuk, has numerous derivatives, Sans. ruc (rôcâmi), ‘to give light,’ rukmá-s, adj., ‘glittering,’ subst. ‘jewels,’ rôká-s, m., rôcaná, n., ‘light’; Gr. λευκός, adj. ‘white,’ ἀμφιλύκη, ‘morning twilight’; Lat. lucerna, lûceo, lux, lucidus, lûna, lûmen, diluculum; OIr. lóche (t), ‘lightning,’ lón, ‘lustre’; OSlov. luča, ‘ray,’ luna, f., ‘moon.’ In Teut. there are also other derivatives of the Aryan root luk; comp. Leuchte, licht, adj., Lohe and Luchs, as well as Goth. lauhmuni, f., ‘lightning,’ lauhatjan, ‘to give light’; OIc. ljóme, AS. leóma, OSax. liomo, m. ‘lustre’; AS. lêgetu, MidE. leit, ‘lightning,’ and OHG. lôhazzen, ‘to lighten’; comp. also Luchs. With Sans. rukšá, Zend raokšna, adj., ‘bright,’ Pruss. lauksnos, f., plur., ‘stars,’ and OIc. ljós, ‘light,’ are also connected OHG. liehsen, adj., ‘bright,’ and AS. lîxan, ‘to give light.’