lithe

/laɪð/·adjective·Before 12th century in Old English as līþe, meaning gentle or mild·Established

Origin

Originally meaning gentle and meek in Old English, lithe did a complete semantic flip to become a word for athletic grace.

Definition

Thin, supple, and graceful in movement or form.

The Full Story

Old EnglishOld Englishwell-attested

From Old English līþe meaning gentle, mild, from Proto-Germanic *linþaz meaning soft, flexible Key roots: *lent- (Proto-Indo-European: "flexible, pliant").

Ancient Roots

*lent- (Proto-Indo-European: “flexible, pliant”)

This Word in Other Languages

lind(Old Norse)lind(Swedish)gelind(Old High German)linths(Gothic)

Related Words

Did you know?

In Old English, lithe meant gentle and meek — practically the opposite of the athletic connotation it carries today. A "lithe" person in the year 900 was mild-mannered, not a gymnast. The shift toward physical suppleness happened gradually during the Middle English period.

Lithe Wiki Article· 2 min read