Etymology

Formed on loʒe (adj.) with prefix -a (< OE on); cp. alofte (adv., prep.). With the sense 'in a low voice', cp. OIcel lágmæltr (pp.) (ONP s.v. lág·mǽla).

PGmc Ancestor

*lēga-

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

lágr ‘low’
(ONP lágr (adj.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

Far lágur, Icel lágur, Norw låg, Dan lav, Sw låg

OE Cognate

lǣg- ‘fallow, uncultivated’

Phonological and morphological markers

ON /ɑ:/ &lt; PGmc */e:/ (1)

Summary category

A1*

Attestation

Attested in ME from the late 14c. through 15c. from a variety of texts, incl. two others in this figurative sense (MED, OED3). It continued in some senses in early MnE (and perhaps was revived later in others; see futher OED3), and is frequently paired with alofte in ME and MnE.

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

Cl 670

Bibliography

MED aloue (adv.) , OED3 alow (adv.1 and prep.) , HTOED ; See further loʒe (adj., adv.).