Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “divinity” come from?

Divinity comes from Old French divinité, derived from Latin divinitas, an abstract noun formed from the adjective divinus, which combines the root dyew- meaning "sky" or "shine" with the suffix -inus, ultimately descended through Proto-Indo-European -iHnos and -no-.

divinity (English): The state, position, or fact of being a god or...

Definitions

  1. The state, position, or fact of being a god or...

Ancestry of “divinity”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchdivinité—
2Latindivinitasdivinity, Godhead, godhood; the power of...
3Latindīvīnus—
4Latindīvus—
5Old Latindeivosgod, deity
6Proto-Italicdeiwosgod, deity
7Proto-Indo-Europeandeywósgod
8Proto-Indo-Europeandyew-to be bright; sky, heaven

Words derived from “divinity”

  • divinityship
  • quasi-divinity
  • indivinity
  • divvers
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dyew- →