Disputed. Often hypothesized as from Proto-Indo-European *leh₂t- (“to grant; to possess”) or *leh₁-t- (“to let, grant, provide”), when compared with Ancient Greek λάτρις (látris, “hired servant”) and Proto-Germanic *lēþą (“ownership, possession”). However, Beekes rejects an Indo-European etymology on phonetic grounds and instead posits Pre-Greek origin for the Greek; he believes Latin latrō is rather borrowed from unattested Ancient Greek *λάτρων (*látrōn).