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ETYMOLOGY DICTIONARY:
- Leo
- zodiac constellation, late O.E., from L. leo "lion" (see lion). Meaning "person born under the sign of Leo" is from 1894. Leonid "meteor which appears to radiate from Leo" is from 1868. The annual shower peaks Nov. 14.
- lion (n.)
- late 12c., from O.Fr. lion "lion," figuratively "hero," from L. leonem (nom. leo) "lion; the constellation leo," from Gk. leon (gen. leontos), from a non-I.E. language, perhaps Semitic (cf. Heb. labhi "lion," pl. lebaim; Egyptian labai, lawai "lioness"). A general Germanic borrowing from Latin (cf. O.E. leo, Anglian lea; O.Fris. lawa; M.Du. leuwe, Du. leeuw; O.H.G. lewo, Ger. Löwe); it is found in most European languages, often via Germanic (cf. O.C.S. livu, Pol. lew, Czech lev, O.Ir. leon, Welsh llew). Used figuratively from c.1200 in an approving sense, "one who is fiercely brave," and a disapproving one, "tyrannical leader, greedy devourer." Lion's share "the greatest portion" is attested from 1701.
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