Where does “exorcism” come from?
Exorcism comes from Old French exorciser, from Late Latin exorcizo, from Ancient Greek ἐξορκίζω meaning to adjure by oath, derived from ὅρκος oath and ἐκ out, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₁eǵʰs.
exorcism (English): The ritual act of driving out evil spirits from...
Definitions
- The ritual act of driving out evil spirits from...
Ancestry of “exorcism”, step by step
exorcism traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Old French exorciser
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | exorciser | — |
| 2 | Latin | exorcizō | to exorcise: to fend off a demon or a possession through the use of specific prayers |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | ἐξορκίζω | banish an evil spirit; bind by oath |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ἐξ | Alternative form of ἐκ; out; from, out of |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | Ὕπνος | Hypnos, the Greek mythological god of sleep |
| 6 | Proto-Hellenic | húpnos | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | supnós | sleep; death |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | swóp-r̥ ~ swép-n̥s | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | swep- | to sleep |
via French exorcisme
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | exorcisme | exorcism |