Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “gospel” come from?

Gospel comes from Middle English gospel, from Old English godspell, combining Old English gōd with Old English spel, ultimately from Proto-Germanic gōdaz and Proto-Indo-European gʰedʰ-.

gospel (English): The first section of the Christian New Testament...

Definitions

  1. The first section of the Christian New Testament...

Ancestry of “gospel”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishgospel—
2Old Englishgōdspell—
3Ecclesiastical Latinevangelium—
4Ancient Greekεὐαγγέλιονa reward for good news; good news; gospel
5Ancient Greekεὐάγγελοςbringing good news
6Ancient GreekἀγγέλλωTo carry, deliver, pass on, relay ; to announce,...
7Ancient Greekἄγγελοςa messenger; one that announces; angel, heavenly...
8Old Norseengillangel
9Old Saxonengilangel
10Proto-West Germanicangilangel
11Latinangelusangel; messenger

Words derived from “gospel”

  • gospeller
  • gospeler
  • gospelly
  • gospelize
  • antigospel
  • protogospel
  • gospellike
  • gospelesque
  • gospelmonger
  • disgospelling
  • gospelphile
  • gospel
  • góspel
  • gospel
  • gospel
  • gospel
  • gospel
Every word from Latin angelus →