Where does “monosyllable” come from?
Monosyllable comes from Ancient Greek μόνος meaning alone combined with Ancient Greek χρῶμα, ultimately from Ancient Greek λαμβάνω meaning to take.
monosyllable (English): A word of one syllable; A euphemism for the word...
Definitions
- A word of one syllable; A euphemism for the word...
Ancestry of “monosyllable”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | syllable | A unit of human speech that is interpreted by the... |
| 2 | Middle English | syllable | — |
| 3 | Anglo-Norman | sillable | syllable |
| 4 | Old French | sillebe | — |
| 5 | Latin | syllaba | syllable; poems, verses |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | συλλαβή | conception, pregnancy; that which holds together,... |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | συλλαμβάνω | I collect, gather; I rally; I take hold of,... |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | σῠν- | together; with, together |
| 9 | Ancient Greek | σύν | beside, with |
| 10 | Proto-Hellenic | *ksún | beside, with |