Etymology Explorer › French

Where does “némésis” come from?

némésis (French) comes from Ancient Greek νέμεσις, from Ancient Greek νέμω, from Proto-Indo-European némos, from Proto-Indo-European nem- — to distribute; to give, to take.

némésis (French): Divine retribution

Definitions

  1. Divine retribution

Ancestry of “némésis”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekνέμεσιςdistribution; retribution; wrath
2Ancient Greekνέμωto deal out, distribute, dispense; to pasture or...
3Proto-Indo-Europeannémossacrifice, worship; place of sacrifice, clearing
4Proto-Indo-Europeannem-to distribute; to give, to take
Every word from Proto-Indo-European nem- →