Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “deluge” come from?

Deluge comes from Middle English deluge, from Old French deluge, from Latin diluvium, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to wash or flow away.

deluge (English): A great flood or rain; An overwhelming amount of...

Definitions

  1. A great flood or rain; An overwhelming amount of...

Ancestry of “deluge”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishdelugeA deluge; a massive flooding or raining; Any...
2Old Frenchdelugelarge flood
3Latindīluvium—
4Latindīluō—
5Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
6Latincalceusshoe
7Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
8Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “deluge”

  • delugeth
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →