Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “hecatomb” come from?

hecatomb (English) comes from Latin hecatombē, from Ancient Greek ἑκατόμβη, from Ancient Greek βοῦς, from Latin corvus, from Proto-Italic korwos, from Proto-Indo-European ḱorh₂wós, from Proto-Indo-European ḱer-, from Proto-Indo-European kr̥- — army.

hecatomb (English): A great feast and public sacrifice to the gods,...

Definitions

  1. A great feast and public sacrifice to the gods,...

Ancestry of “hecatomb”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinhecatombē—
2Ancient Greekἑκατόμβηhecatomb, animal sacrifice
3Ancient Greekβοῦςcow, ox, cattle; shield: ὃτι ἐκ βοείων ἐστι...
4LatincorvusA raven; a bird associated with prophecy and...
5Proto-Italickorwos—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱorh₂wós—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱer-to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,...
8Proto-Indo-Europeankr̥-to turn, to bend
9Proto-Indo-Europeanker-army
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ker- →