Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “blasphemous” come from?

Blasphemous derives from Latin blasphemus, from Ancient Greek βλάσφημος, combining Ancient Greek φήμη (speech) and Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂- (to speak).

blasphemous (English): Lacking piety or respect for the sacred....

Definitions

  1. Lacking piety or respect for the sacred....

Ancestry of “blasphemous”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinblasphēmus—
2Ancient Greekβλάσφημοςuttering ill-omened words; jinx; reviling,...
3Ancient Greekφήμηprophetic voice, oracle; rumor; reputation
4Proto-Hellenicpʰā́mā—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeh₂-meh₂—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeh₂-to shine, glow light; to speak, say
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeh₂-s-ri-—

Words derived from “blasphemous”

  • blasphemously
  • blasphemousness
  • unblasphemous
  • nonblasphemous
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂-s-ri- →