Where does “demi-caractère” come from?
demi-caractère (English) comes from French demi-caractère, from French caractère, from Old French caractere, from Latin character, from Ancient Greek χαρακτήρ, from Ancient Greek χαράσσω, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer- — to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines.
demi-caractère (English): Which, in the historical French nomenclature, was halfway between serious (sérieux) and comic (comique); typically, where the protagonists or the plot were not noble enough compared to those derived from mythology or history, but could still convey serious emotions (see for example the 1886 Camille
Definitions
- Which, in the historical French nomenclature, was halfway between serious (sérieux) and comic (comique); typically, where the protagonists or the plot were not noble enough compared to those derived from mythology or history, but could still convey serious emotions (see for example the 1886 Camille
Ancestry of “demi-caractère”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | demi-caractère | demi-caractère |
| 2 | French | caractère | character, demeanour, personality; character |
| 3 | Old French | caractere | mark; sign; indication |
| 4 | Latin | character | branding iron; brand; characteristic, mark,... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | χαρακτήρ | instrument used for engraving; person who... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | χαράσσω | to sharpen; to engrave, carve, write, draw, stamp |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰer- | to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines |