Where does “cimiterie” come from?
cimiterie (Middle English) comes from Old French cimitiere, from Medieval Latin cimiterium, 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 “cimiterie”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | cimitiere | — |
| 2 | Medieval Latin | cimiterium | — |
| 3 | Late Latin | coemeterium | cemetery, churchyard, burial ground |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | κοιμητήριον | sleeping chamber |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | κοιμάω | put to sleep, lull; to sleep |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱey- | to be lying down; to settle |