Livelihood

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈlʌɪvlɪhÊŠd/
• US IPA: /ˈlaɪvlihÊŠd/

Alternative forms

• livelod
• lyuelode 12th-17th c.
• lyvelod 14th-17th c.

Origin

From Middle English liflode, from Old English līflād ("course of life, conduct"), from līf("life") + lād("course, journey"), later altered under the influence of lively, -hood. Compare life, lode.

Full definition of livelihood

Noun

1. (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 ....
2. 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.
3. (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 ...?
4. (obsolete) liveliness; appearance of life

Synonyms

• living
• subsistence