Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “nomos” come from?

Nomos comes from Ancient Greek νόμος, derived from the Ancient Greek verb νέμω meaning to distribute or allot, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European nem-.

nomos (English): The body of law, especially that governing human...

Definitions

  1. The body of law, especially that governing human...

Ancestry of “nomos”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekνόμοςusage, custom; law, ordinance; melody, strain
2Ancient Greekνέμωto deal out, distribute, dispense; to pasture or...
3Proto-Indo-Europeannémossacrifice, worship; place of sacrifice, clearing
4Proto-Indo-Europeannem-to distribute; to give, to take
Every word from Proto-Indo-European nem- →