Where does “polytheism” come from?
Polytheism derives from French polythéisme, from Ancient Greek πολύς (polús, "many"), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European polh₁ús and pleh₁-, both meaning "full" or "many."
polytheism (English): The belief in the existence of multiple gods
Definitions
- The belief in the existence of multiple gods
Ancestry of “polytheism”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | polythéisme | polytheism |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | πολύς | many, a lot of; neuter πολύ or πολλά as... |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | πόρος | a means of passage, passageway, way, opening;... |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | πείρω | I pierce, run through; I cleave through |
| 5 | Proto-Hellenic | *péryō | — |