Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “psalmist” come from?

Psalmist comes from English psalm plus the suffix -ista from Latin, -ιστής from Ancient Greek, derived from the verb -ίζω in Ancient Greek, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European -idyéti meaning "to do or perform."

psalmist (English): A composer of psalms; A composer of one of the...

Definitions

  1. A composer of psalms; A composer of one of the...

Ancestry of “psalmist”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpsalmA sacred song; a poetical composition for use in...
2Middle Englishsalm—
3Old Englishpsealmpsalm
4Latinpsalmuspsalm
5Ancient Greekψαλμόςtwitching or twanging with the fingers; sound of...
6Ancient Greekψάλλωto twitch; to make a sound by striking, touching,...
7Ancient Greekψάωto touch lightly, rub, wipe, rub smooth; to...
Every word from Ancient Greek ψάω →