Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “surrealism” come from?

Surrealism comes from French surréalisme, combining French sur- (from Latin super-, from Proto-Indo-European h₃reǵ-, meaning to stretch or reach) and French -isme (from Ancient Greek -ισμός).

surrealism (English): An artistic movement and an aesthetic philosophy...

Definitions

  1. An artistic movement and an aesthetic philosophy...

Ancestry of “surrealism”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchsurréalismesurrealism
2Frenchréalismerealism
3Frenchréelreal
4Middle Frenchrealroyal; Alternative form of royal
5Old Frenchreel—
6Latinreālis—
7Latinrēs—
8Latinvindicatiocivil lawsuit; protection, defence; vindication;...
9Latinvindicō—
10Latinvindexclaimant, vindicator
11Latindīcō—
12Latin-tiō—
13Latindissertātiō—
14Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
15Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
16Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
17Latincalceusshoe
18Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
19Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “surrealism”

  • neosurrealism
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →