Where does “tomb” come from?
Tomb comes from Middle English tombe, from Old French tombe, from Latin tumba, from Ancient Greek τύμβος, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European tūm- meaning a mound or swelling.
tomb (English): A small building for the remains of the dead,...
Definitions
- A small building for the remains of the dead,...
Ancestry of “tomb”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | tombé | past participle of tomber |
| 2 | Italian | tomba | tomb, grave; A very narrow and gloomy habitation... |
| 3 | Spanish | tumba | grave, tomb |
| 4 | Latin | tumba | tomb |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | τύμβος | funeral mound, tomb, grave |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | tūm- | to grow; to swell, to increase; to swell, be... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | tewh₂- | to swell; to crowd; to be strong |