An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/leise
leise, adj., ‘low, soft, gentle,’ from Mid HG. lîse, OHG. *lîsi (adv. lîso), ‘low,’ also ‘slow.’ Under lehren, List, and lernen, a Teut. root, orig. meaning ‘to go,’ is discussed, with which Goth. leis, ‘familiar,’ seems to be connected. The HG. word can, however, scarcely be directly allied to this adj., since the difference in meaning is too great. It is also questionable whether leise belongs at all to the root lis. Perhaps it is connected with Gr. λεῖος, λιαρός, ‘soft, gentle, mild’; both, however, are better referred to Lat. lêvis, ‘smooth.’ The nasal in Suab. lins (lœñs), ‘low,’ presents a difficulty.