Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Herculean” come from?

Herculean (English) comes from English Hercules, from Latin Herculēs, from Etruscan 𐌇𐌄𐌓𐌂𐌋𐌄, from Ancient Greek Ἡρακλῆς, from Ancient Greek -κλῆς, from Ancient Greek -κλέης, from Ancient Greek κλέος, from Proto-Hellenic kléwos — to cover; to incline.

Herculean (English): Of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.;...

Definitions

  1. Of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.;...

Ancestry of “Herculean”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishHercules—
2LatinHerculēs—
3Etruscan𐌇𐌄𐌓𐌂𐌋𐌄—
4Ancient GreekἩρακλῆςHeracles
5Ancient Greek-κλῆςAn element found in given names
6Ancient Greek-κλέης—
7Ancient Greekκλέοςrumour, report; good report, fame, glory; bad...
8Proto-Hellenickléwosfame
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱléwosfame
10Proto-Indo-Europeanḱlew-to hear
11Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- →