Where does “philomel” come from?
philomel (English) comes from Middle French Philomele, from Latin Philomēla, from Ancient Greek Φιλομήλη, from Ancient Greek φίλος, from Proto-Indo-European bʰil-o-s, from Proto-Indo-European bʰil- — good, decent; decent, good, harmonious, friendly;...
philomel (English): The nightingale
Definitions
- The nightingale
Ancestry of “philomel”, step by step
philomel traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle French Philomele
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle French | Philomele | nightingale |
| 2 | Latin | Philomēla | The swallow |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | Φιλομήλη | swallow |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | φίλος | That which is loved or important: beloved, dear;... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰil-o-s | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰil- | good, decent; decent, good, harmonious, friendly;... |