Etymology: Apparently the reflex of Old English gelīþian to mitigate, relieve ( < y- prefix + lithe v.²), with reduction of the prefix (compare a- prefix²).

Etymology: Probably the reflex (with phonological reduction of the prefix: see a- prefix²) of Old English gelīðan to go, to travel, to arrive, to pass away, a strong verb of Class I, cognate with or formed similarly to Middle Dutch gelīden to pass, to go past (Dutch gelijden ), Old High German gilīdan to go away, Gothic galeiþan to go, to go away; compare also (transitive) Old Dutch gilīthan to suffer (Middle Dutch gelīden , Dutch gelijden ), Middle High German gelīden to suffer (early modern German geleiden ), all < the Germanic base of y- prefix + the Germanic base of lithe v.¹ Compare earlier ago v., awend v.A possible alternative derivation as the reflex of an unattested Old English *alīðan , cognate with Gothic usleiþan to go away, to disappear ( < the Germanic base of or- prefix (compare a- prefix¹) + the Germanic base of lithe v.¹), is less likely. The formal parallels to Gothic usleiþan in the West Germanic languages show only transitive senses, as Middle Low German erlīden to permit, to suffer, Old High German irlīdan to complete, fulfil, to suffer (Middle High German erlīden to suffer, German erleiden). No such formation is attested in Old English in either transitive or intransitive sense.