licham

/ˈlɪt͡ʃəm/

Etymology

From Middle English licham, lichame, from Old English līċhama (“body”), from Proto-West Germanic *līkahamō, from Proto-Germanic *līkahamô, equivalent to like (“body”) + hame (“covering, case”). In Old English, līchama was the general term for "body," while līċ had come to mean a dead body specifically. Cognate with Scots lekame (“body”), West Frisian lichem (“body”), Dutch lichaam (“body”), German Leichnam (“body, corpse”), Danish legeme (“body”), Swedish lekamen (“body”), Icelandic líkami (“body”).

licham means The human body, especially when living. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 100 out of 100.

Why this word is great

LICHAM — [Noun] The human body, especially when living. From Middle English licham, lichame, from Old English līċhama ("body"), from Proto-West Germanic *līkahamō, from Proto-Germanic *līkahamô, equivalent to līk ("body") + hama ("covering, case"). Unlike "corpse" (which is hollowed of life) or "soul" (which is weightless and abstract), licham is the warm, breathing vessel—the thing that aches and sweats and trembles. It is the calloused hand gripping a plow, the flush of exertion on a runner’s cheek, the weight of a sleeping child against your shoulder—the quiet miracle of being not just housed, but alive inside the house.

noun

The human body, especially when living.“[…] Nor a living for your licham that lief is to your soul. Believe not your licham, for a liar teaches him Which is the wretched world that wishes to betray you.”