Where does “eunuch” come from?
Eunuch comes from Middle English eunuk, from Middle French eunuque, from Latin eunuchus, from Ancient Greek εὐνοῦχος, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European seǵʰ meaning to hold or have.
eunuch (English): A castrated human male; Such a man employed as...
Definitions
- A castrated human male; Such a man employed as...
Ancestry of “eunuch”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | eunuk | A eunuch, especially one working as a guard at a... |
| 2 | Latin | eunūchus | eunuch |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | εὐνοῦχος | castrated person, eunuch; castrated animal; date... |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ἔχω | I have, possess, contain, own; I hold; I have... |
| 5 | Proto-Hellenic | hékʰō | to have |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | seǵʰ- | to hold; to overpower |