Where does “theme” come from?
Theme comes from Middle English teme, Old English tēam, Latin thema, Ancient Greek θέμα, derived from the Greek verb τίθημι meaning "to place or set," ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European roots deh₂-, dʰeh₁-, and demh₂-.
theme (English): A subject of a talk or an artistic piece; a...
Definitions
- A subject of a talk or an artistic piece; a...
Ancestry of “theme”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | teme | kinfolk, clan, people; The privilege of making... |
| 2 | Old English | tēam | team; child-bearing, offspring, brood, set of... |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | *taum | — |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | taumaz | a tie; tether; rope; cord; strap; leash; bridle;... |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | taugijaną | to stretch, draw |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | dewk- | to pull, to draw; to lead |