Little
/ˈlɪt.əl/noun
Small in size, amount, or degree.
Did you know?In Old English, 'lytel' was often associated with humble beginnings and the divine, suggesting that smallness had a sacred significance.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*littilaz
“small, little”
Old English
OE
lytel
“small in size or amount”
Middle English
ME
litel
“of small size; diminutive”
Modern English
English
little
“denoting small size or amount, often with affection or endearment.”
Explore more surprising origins