Where does “amulet” come from?
Amulet derives from Middle French amulette, from Latin amuletum, from Latin amylum meaning "starch," from Ancient Greek ἄμυλον, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "not" and "to grind."
amulet (English): A kind of protective charm or ornament, often...
Definitions
- A kind of protective charm or ornament, often...
Ancestry of “amulet”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle French | amulette | — |
| 2 | Latin | amuletum | an amulet |
| 3 | Latin | amylum | starch; gruel; fine meal |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ἄμυλον | starch |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | ἀ- | The alpha privativum, used to make words that... |
| 6 | Proto-Hellenic | hə- | same; together |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | sm̥- | one; with, together |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | sem- | together, one |