Where does “zodiac” come from?
Zodiac comes from Middle English zodiak, from Old French zodiaque, from Latin zodiacus, from Ancient Greek ζῳδῐᾰκός, derived from ζῷον meaning animal, ultimately from Proto-Hellenic gʷyṓwyon.
zodiac (English): The belt-like region of the celestial sphere...
Definitions
- The belt-like region of the celestial sphere...
Ancestry of “zodiac”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | zodiak | — |
| 2 | Old French | zodiaque | zodiac |
| 3 | Latin | zōdiacus | of or pertaining to the zodiac |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ζῳδιακός | Of or relating to little animals; Of or relating... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | ζῴδιον | little animal; sign of the zodiac |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | ζῷον | animal, beast; form, image |
| 7 | Proto-Hellenic | ďṓyyon | animal, creature, beast |
| 8 | Proto-Hellenic | gʷyōwyon | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷyeh₃w-y-om | — |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷíh₃weti | to live, to be alive |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷih₃wós | alive, living |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷeih₃w- | to live |