Etymology

Formed on loʒe (adj.); cp. further OIcel lágligr 'low'.

PGmc Ancestor

*lēga-

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

lágr ‘low’, cp. lágligr (adj.) 'low'
(ONP lágligr (adj.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

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

OE Cognate

cp. lǣg- ‘fallow, uncultivated’

Phonological and morphological markers

ON /ɑ:/ < PGmc */e:/ (1)

absence of palatalization of */ɡ/

Summary category

A1*

Attestation

MED and OED3 have widespread citations from the late 14c. onwards, incl. Chaucer and Lydgate.

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

WA 4260

Bibliography

MED loulī (adj.) , OED3 lowly (adj. and n.) , HTOED ; see further loʒe (adj.).