Etymology Explorer › Medieval Latin

Where does “cimiterium” come from?

cimiterium (Medieval Latin) comes from Late Latin coemeterium, from Ancient Greek κοιμητήριον, from Ancient Greek κοιμάω, from Proto-Indo-European ḱey- — to be lying down; to settle.

Ancestry of “cimiterium”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Late Latincoemeteriumcemetery, churchyard, burial ground
2Ancient Greekκοιμητήριονsleeping chamber
3Ancient Greekκοιμάωput to sleep, lull; to sleep
4Proto-Indo-Europeanḱey-to be lying down; to settle

Words derived from “cimiterium”

  • cemetery
  • cemeterial
  • cemeterylike
  • cimiterie
  • cimitiere
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱey- →