"remains," 1650s, Latin plural of reliquus "remainder, residue," noun use of adjective meaning "that is left, remaining, left over," related to relinquere (perfective reliqui) "leave behind, forsake, abandon, give up," from re- "back" (see re-) + linquere "to leave," from PIE *linkw-, nasalized form of root *leikw- "to leave."