Where does “aphorism” come from?
Aphorism comes from Middle French aphorisme, from Late Latin aphorismus, from Ancient Greek ἀφορισμός, derived from the verb ἀφορίζω meaning to define or distinguish, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning away and to separate.
aphorism (English): An original, laconic phrase conveying some...
Definitions
- An original, laconic phrase conveying some...
Ancestry of “aphorism”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle French | aphorisme | — |
| 2 | Latin | aphorismus | aphorism |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | ἀφορισμός | limitation; separation, distinction |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ἀφορίζω | to mark off boundary; to mark off for myself; to... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | ἀπο- | Indicating movement: away, from, off; Indicating... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | ἀπό | from, away from; because of, as a result of |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | Ἥλιος | sun |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | τύπος | A blow, pressing; The results of a blow: mark,... |
| 9 | Ancient Greek | τύπτω | to beat, strike, smite; to beat, strike oneself |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)tewp- | to push, to stick |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)tew- | to push, to hit |