Where does “monopoly” come from?
Monopoly comes from Latin monopolium, from Ancient Greek μονοπώλιον, derived from πωλέω meaning to sell, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European gʰer-.
monopoly (English): A situation, by legal privilege or other...
Definitions
- A situation, by legal privilege or other...
Ancestry of “monopoly”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | monopolium | A right of exclusive sale in dealing or selling a... |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | μονοπώλιον | right of monopoly; an entity possessing a... |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | μόνος | alone, forsaken, solitary; only; unique |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | σπέρμα | seed; semen, sperm; seed-time, sowing |
| 5 | Proto-Hellenic | *spérmə | — |