Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “superstition” come from?

Superstition comes from Middle French superstition, from Latin superstitio, derived from the Latin verb sto meaning to stand, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European steh₂- meaning to stand or be firm.

superstition (English): A belief or beliefs, not based on human reason or...

Definitions

  1. A belief or beliefs, not based on human reason or...

Ancestry of “superstition”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchsuperstition—
2Latinsuperstitiosuperstition
3Latin-tiō—
4Latindissertātiō—
5Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
6Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
7Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
8Latincalceusshoe
9Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
10Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “superstition”

  • superstitionist
  • superstitionless
  • sub-superstition
  • superstiĉo
  • superstiĉa
  • superstiĉe
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →