Where does “Empedocles” come from?
Empedocles derives from Ancient Greek Ἐμπεδοκλῆς, a compound of ἐν- and -κλῆς, from κλέος meaning "glory," traced through Proto-Hellenic kléwos and Proto-Indo-European ḱléwos and ḱlew- to the root ḱel-.
Empedocles (English): A Greek philosopher who held that all matter was composed of earth, air, fire and water
Definitions
- A Greek philosopher who held that all matter was composed of earth, air, fire and water
Ancestry of “Empedocles”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ancient Greek | Ἐμπεδοκλῆς | in particular, the 5th century philosopher Empedocles |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | -κλῆς | An element found in given names |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | -κλέης | — |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | κλέος | rumour, report; good report, fame, glory; bad... |
| 5 | Proto-Hellenic | kléwos | fame |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱléwos | fame |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱlew- | to hear |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱel- | to cover; to incline |