Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Orphism” come from?

Orphism (English) comes from English Orpheus, from Ancient Greek Ὀρφεύς, from Proto-Indo-European h₃órbʰos, from Proto-Indo-European h₃erbʰ- — to change allegiance, status, ownership;...

Ancestry of “Orphism”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishOrpheus—
2Ancient GreekὈρφεύς—
3Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃órbʰosorphan; servant, slave, worker
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃erbʰ-to change allegiance, status, ownership;...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃erbʰ- →