An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/ledig

by Friedrich Kluge

ledig, adjective, from the equivalent Middle High German lëdic, lëdec (g), ‘unoccupied, free, untrammelled’; the modern Upper German dialects point to Middle High German lędic. Old High German *lëdag, lędig, as well as Gothic *liþags are wanting; the following, however, are recorded: Old Icelandic liþugr, ‘free, untrammelled,’ Middle English leþi, adjective ‘unoccupied, empty,’ Middle Dutch lëdech, Middle Low German leddich, ledich, ‘at leisure, unemployed.’ The primary word is Middle English lę̂the, ‘leisure, spare time’ (Anglo-Saxon leoþu?), to which is allied lêthen (leþin), ‘to set free’ (Anglo-Saxon ût-, a-leoþian?), as well as Middle Dutch onlêde, ‘want of leisure, grief.’ On account of the absence of the word in the Old Teutonic dialects it is difficult to determine the evolution in meaning. Must we connect it with Gothic unlêds, Anglo-Saxon unlœ̂de, ‘poor, unhappy,’ or with Latin lîber (for lîthero?), ‘free’?