Where does “Man” come from?
Man derives from Middle English mon, which developed from Proto-Indo-European men-, a root meaning "to think" or "mind," combined with Proto-Indo-European ḱóm meaning "with" or "together."
Man (English): The genus Homo
Definitions
- The genus Homo
Ancestry of “Man”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | man | An adult male human; All human males... |
| 2 | Middle English | man | Typically singular, indefinite pronoun: one, you;... |
| 3 | Old English | mān | bad, criminal, false; shameful act; crime;... |
| 4 | Sanskrit | महादेव | the "great God" |
| 5 | Sanskrit | महा | combining form of महत्; buffalo; great, large,... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-Aryan | maźʰā́ | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-Iranian | maȷ́ʰā́ | big, great |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | méǵh₂s | big, great |