An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/ledig

by Friedrich Kluge

ledig, adj., from the equiv. MidHG. lëdic, lëdec (g), ‘unoccupied, free, untrammelled’; the modern UpG. dials. point to MidHG. lędic. OHG. *lëdag, lędig, as well as Goth. *liþags are wanting; the following, however, are recorded: OIc. liþugr, ‘free, untrammelled,’ MidE. leþi, adj. ‘unoccupied, empty,’ MidDu. lëdech, MidLG. leddich, ledich, ‘at leisure, unemployed.’ The prim. word is MidE. lę̂the, ‘leisure, spare time’ (AS. leoþu?), to which is allied lêthen (leþin), ‘to set free’ (AS. ût-, a-leoþian?), as well as MidDu. onlêde, ‘want of leisure, grief.’ On account of the absence of the word in the OTeut. dials. it is difficult to determine the evolution in meaning. Must we connect it with Goth. unlêds, AS. unlœ̂de, ‘poor, unhappy,’ or with Lat. lîber (for lîthero?), ‘free’?