From Old English 'lifian,' from PIE *leyp- (to stick, remain) — the oldest concept of living was persisting, staying.
To remain alive; to be alive; to reside in a particular place.
From Old English 'libban, lifian' (to live, to be alive), from Proto-Germanic *libjaną (to live, to remain), from PIE *leyp- or *lewbʰ- (to live, to remain, to be sticky or adhesive — life as that which clings and persists). The same PIE root underlies Gothic 'liban,' Old High German 'lebēn,' and Old Norse 'lifa,' all meaning to live. The related noun 'life' comes