Livelihood
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: /ˈlʌɪvlɪhʊd/
- US IPA: /ˈlaɪvlihʊd/
Origin
From Middle English liflode, from Old English lÄ«flÄd ("course of life, conduct"), from lÄ«f("life") + lÄd("course, journey"), later altered under the influence of lively, -hood. Compare life, lode.
Full definition of livelihood
Noun
livelihood
(plural livelihoods)- (obsolete) The course of someone's life; a person's lifetime, or their manner of living; conduct, behaviour. 10th-17th c.
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book I.3:his name is sir Ector, & he is a lord of fair lyuelode in many partyes in Englond & Walys ....
- A person's means of supporting himself. from 14th c.
- 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, V.4:But now, when Philtra saw my lands decay
And former livelod fayle, she left me quight …. - Addisonthe opportunities of gaining an honest livelihood
- SouthIt is their profession and livelihood to get their living by practices for which they deserve to forfeit their lives.
- 2013, Matthew Claughton, The Guardian, (letter), 25 Apr 2013:The legal profession believes that client choice is the best way of ensuring standards remain high, because a lawyer's livelihood depends upon their reputation.
- (now rare) Property which brings in an income; an estate. from 15th c.
- 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Acts V:Then sayde Peter: Ananias how is it that satan hath fillen thyne hert, thatt thou shuldest lye unto the holy goost, and kepe awaye parte off the pryce off thy lyvelod ...?
- (obsolete) liveliness; appearance of life