Etymology Explorer › Medieval Latin

Where does “Magna Carta” come from?

Magna Carta (Medieval Latin) comes from Latin carta, from Ancient Greek χάρτης, from Ancient Greek χαράσσω, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer- — to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines.

Ancestry of “Magna Carta”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latincartapapyrus; letter etc
2Ancient Greekχάρτηςsheet of paper, paper; book
3Ancient Greekχαράσσωto sharpen; to engrave, carve, write, draw, stamp
4Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰer-to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer- →