Where does “history” come from?
History comes from Middle English historie, from Old French estorie, from Latin historia, from Ancient Greek ἱστορία (historía), derived from ἱστορέω (historéō), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European weyd- meaning to see or know.
history (English): The aggregate of past events; The branch of...
Definitions
- The aggregate of past events; The branch of...
Ancestry of “history”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | historie | A narrative, recounting, or chronicle; events in... |
| 2 | Old French | historie | — |
| 3 | Latin | historia | history; account; story |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ἱστορία | inquiry, examination, systematic observation,... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | ἱστορέω | to inquire, ask; to examine, observe; to record,... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | ἵστωρ | one who knows law and right, judge; witness; a... |
| 7 | Proto-Hellenic | wístōr | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | wéydtōr | one who has seen, one who knows |
| 9 | Indo-European | *weyd- | — |