Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “Lucifer” come from?

Lucifer (Middle English) comes from Latin Lūcifer, from Ancient Greek Φωσφόρος, from Ancient Greek -φόρος, from Ancient Greek φέρω, from Proto-Hellenic pʰérō, from Proto-Indo-European bʰéreti, from Proto-Indo-European bʰēr- — shiny, light brown.

Ancestry of “Lucifer”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1LatinLūcifer—
2Ancient GreekΦωσφόροςthe bearer of light
3Ancient Greek-φόρος-bearing, -carrying; carrying, bearing; bringing
4Ancient GreekφέρωI bring, bear, carry
5Proto-Hellenicpʰérōto bear
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰéretito be carrying
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰēr-shiny, light brown

Words derived from “Lucifer”

  • Lucifer
  • Luciferian
  • Luciferic
  • Luciferianism
  • ルシファー
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰēr- →