Where does “encyclopædia” come from?
encyclopædia (English) comes from New Latin encyclopaedia, from Ancient Greek παιδείᾱ, from Ancient Greek παῖς, from Proto-Hellenic pā́wits, from Proto-Indo-European péh₂wids, from Proto-Indo-European peh₂w- — few, little; smallness.
encyclopædia (English): Archaic spelling of encyclopedia
Definitions
- Archaic spelling of encyclopedia
Ancestry of “encyclopædia”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Latin | encyclopaedia | general education; encyclopedia |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | παιδείᾱ | rearing of a child, education; child-rearing,... |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | παῖς | child, son, daughter; young person, child, boy,... |
| 4 | Proto-Hellenic | pā́wits | child |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | péh₂wids | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | peh₂w- | few, little; smallness |