Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “synagogue” come from?

Synagogue comes from Middle English synagoge, from Old French synagoge, from Ancient Greek σῠνᾰγωγή, derived from σύν- (together) and ἄγω (to lead).

synagogue (English): A place of worship for Jews; A congregation of...

Definitions

  1. A place of worship for Jews; A congregation of...

Ancestry of “synagogue”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishsynagogesynagogue
2Old Frenchsynagoge—
3Latinsynagōga—
4Ancient Greekσυναγωγήgathering, collection; a gathering of people,...
5Ancient Greekσυνάγωto bring together, gather together; gather...
6Ancient GreekἄγωTo lead, fetch, bring along , take with; To carry...
7Proto-Hellenicágōto lead, to guide
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éǵetito be driving
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eǵ-to drive

Words derived from “synagogue”

  • unsynagogued
  • synagoguegoer
  • cybersynagogue
  • synagogue-goer
  • synagogue-going
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ- →