Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “apologetics” come from?

Apologetics derives from Late Latin apologia, from Ancient Greek ἀπολογία, meaning a speech in defense, from λόγος (discourse) and λέγω (to speak), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂epo (to fasten or fit).

apologetics (English): The field of study concerned with the systematic...

Definitions

  1. The field of study concerned with the systematic...

Ancestry of “apologetics”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Late Latinapologiaa defense, apology
2Ancient Greekἀπολογίαa speech made in defense of something
3Ancient Greekἀπόλογοςstory, tale; fable, apologue, allegory; account...
4Ancient Greekἀπο-Indicating movement: away, from, off; Indicating...
5Ancient Greekἀπόfrom, away from; because of, as a result of
6Ancient GreekἭλιοςsun
7Ancient GreekτύποςA blow, pressing; The results of a blow: mark,...
8Ancient Greekτύπτωto beat, strike, smite; to beat, strike oneself
9Proto-Indo-European(s)tewp-to push, to stick
10Proto-Indo-European(s)tew-to push, to hit
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)tew- →