Etymology Explorer › Ecclesiastical Latin

Where does “epistola” come from?

epistola (Ecclesiastical Latin) comes from Ancient Greek ἐπιστολή, from Ancient Greek ἐπιστέλλω, from Ancient Greek ἐπί, from Ancient Greek Ἡμέρα, from Ancient Greek ἦμαρ, from Proto-Hellenic ā́mər, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eh₃mr̥, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eh₃- — to be hot; to burn.

Ancestry of “epistola”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekἐπιστολήmessage, letter; command, commission, injunction;...
2Ancient GreekἐπιστέλλωI send to, inform by letter/message; I order,...
3Ancient Greekἐπίas well, besides; For usage in composition, see...
4Ancient GreekἩμέρα—
5Ancient Greekἦμαρday; by day; midday
6Proto-Hellenicā́mər—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eh₃mr̥heat
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eh₃-to be hot; to burn
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eh₃- →