Where does “crucifix” come from?
Crucifix comes from Old French crocefis, from Latin crucifixus, a past participle of crucifigere formed from Latin crux meaning cross, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European sek- meaning to cut or sever.
crucifix (English): A wooden cross used for crucifixions, as by the...
Definitions
- A wooden cross used for crucifixions, as by the...
Ancestry of “crucifix”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | crucifix | — |
| 2 | Old French | crocefis | crucifix |
| 3 | Latin | crucifixus | crucified |
| 4 | Latin | crucifigo | I crucify, fix on a cross |
| 5 | Latin | crux | wooden frame on which criminals were crucified,... |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | *kruks | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | sḱer- | to caw, crow |
Words derived from “crucifix”