Where does “exorcist” come from?
exorcist (English) comes from Middle French exorciste, from Latin exorcista, from Ancient Greek ἐξορκιστής, from Ancient Greek ἐξορκίζω, from Ancient Greek ἐξ, from Ancient Greek Ὕπνος, from Proto-Hellenic húpnos, from Proto-Indo-European supnós — to sleep.
exorcist (English): A person, especially a priest, who practices...
Definitions
- A person, especially a priest, who practices...
Ancestry of “exorcist”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle French | exorciste | — |
| 2 | Latin | exorcista | exorcist |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | ἐξορκιστής | exorcist |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ἐξορκίζω | banish an evil spirit; bind by oath |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | ἐξ | Alternative form of ἐκ; out; from, out of |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | Ὕπνος | Hypnos, the Greek mythological god of sleep |
| 7 | Proto-Hellenic | húpnos | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | supnós | sleep; death |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | swóp-r̥ ~ swép-n̥s | — |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | swep- | to sleep |