Where does “persōna” come from?
persōna (Latin) comes from Etruscan 𐌘𐌄𐌓𐌔𐌖, from Ancient Greek πρόσωπον, from Ancient Greek ὤψ, from Proto-Hellenic ókʷs, from Proto-Indo-European h₃ókʷs, from Proto-Indo-European h₃ekʷ- — to see; eye.
Ancestry of “persōna”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Etruscan | 𐌘𐌄𐌓𐌔𐌖 | a mask; a masked individual, often performing in... |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | πρόσωπον | face, visage, countenance; front; mask |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | ὤψ | to the eye; in the face; eye |
| 4 | Proto-Hellenic | ókʷs | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃ókʷs | eye |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃ekʷ- | to see; eye |