1. the track (ONLY for train tracks. The "Gleis" can refer to the track at a station or to the actual metal beams. Etymologically, it comes from a root that was about a dragged track and it's related to "learn", believe it or not. )
Meanings
Word Family
Root: *leis-, *lois-
The core idea of this root was:
track, furrow
From there, it shifted toward the broader sense of pursuit and eventually even further toward pursuit of knowledge.
Here’s a quick overview over English family members:
- to learn (pursue a trace to knowledge)
- lore (what is learned)
- to last (follow a track, stay on track -> remain)
- delirious (Originally “off track->crazy” in Latin)
The meaning of German leisten evolved from a sense of following directions, doing your work and then shifted a bit toward getting results.
