Where does “ousia” come from?

Ousia derives from Ancient Greek οὐσία, built from the Ancient Greek verb εἰμί meaning "to be," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₁es- meaning "to exist."

ousia (English): The essential nature or ‘substance’ of God, often...

Definitions

  1. The essential nature or ‘substance’ of God, often...

Ancestry of “ousia”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekοὐσίαthat which is one's own, one's substance,...
2Ancient GreekεἰμίTo be, exist; live; To be; it is possible
3Proto-Hellenicehmito be
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁ésmifirst-person singular present indicative of...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁ēs-to be
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁ēs- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁ésmi →Every word from Proto-Hellenic ehmi →