Where does “apocalypse” come from?

Apocalypse comes from Middle English apocalips, from Latin apocalypsis, from Ancient Greek ἀποκάλυψις, combining ἀπό (from Proto-Indo-European h₂epo meaning "away") and a root meaning "to cover."

apocalypse (English): A revelation; The unveiling of events prophesied...

Definitions

  1. A revelation; The unveiling of events prophesied...

Ancestry of “apocalypse”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishapocalipsThe book of Revelation; The biblical Apocalypse;...
2Latinapocalypsisrevelation, disclosing
3Ancient Greekἀποκάλυψιςuncovering, revelation, disclosure
4Ancient GreekἀποκαλύπτωI reveal
5Ancient Greekἀπο-Indicating movement: away, from, off; Indicating...
6Ancient Greekἀπόfrom, away from; because of, as a result of
7Ancient GreekἭλιοςsun
8Ancient GreekτύποςA blow, pressing; The results of a blow: mark,...
9Ancient Greekτύπτωto beat, strike, smite; to beat, strike oneself
10Proto-Indo-European(s)tewp-to push, to stick
11Proto-Indo-European(s)tew-to push, to hit
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)tew-Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)tewp-Every word from Ancient Greek τύπτω
apocalypse — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer