look
/lʊk/
verb
Origin
Old English
lōcian — to look, see, observe
Overview
Meaning Now
- To direct one's gaze toward someone or something in order to see.
- To have a particular appearance or expression.
Language path
Proto-Indo-European → Proto-Germanic → Old English → English
Earliest form
lōcian
Earliest period
Old English period
Journey
The word traces back to West Germanic origins where it was strictly used for the act of visual perception. Over time, it expanded in English to cover abstract concepts of appearance ('it looks good') and mental scrutiny ('look into a matter').
Evolution
- Old English
lōcian
“to see, look at”
- Middle English
loken
“to watch, gaze, or appear”
- Early Modern English
look
“the act of seeing or appearance”
Connections
Word parts
look
root
to direct visual attention
Related across languages
Middle Dutch
loeken
to look
Old Saxon
lōkōn
to look
Explore next
Related to look
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.