Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “communion” come from?

Communion comes from Middle English communion, from Old French comunion, from Ecclesiastical Latin communio, derived from Latin com- meaning "with" or "together."

communion (English): A joining together of minds or spirits; Holy...

Definitions

  1. A joining together of minds or spirits; Holy...

Ancestry of “communion”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishcomunioun—
2Old Frenchcomunion—
3Ecclesiastical Latincommuniocommunion; To barricade; To strengthen
4Latincommūnis—
5Old Latincom(m)oinis—
6Proto-Italickommoinis—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱom-moy-ni-held in common
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
9Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
10Middle Englishkyt—
11Germankitt—
12Old High Germankuti—
13Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
14Proto-Germanickweduzresin
15Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
16Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “communion”

  • intercommunion
  • postcommunion
  • antecommunion
  • noncommunion
  • communionlike
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →