Where does “holocaust” come from?
holocaust (Middle English) comes from Anglo-Norman holocauste, from Late Latin holocaustum, from Ancient Greek ὁλόκαυστος, from Ancient Greek ὅλος, from Proto-Indo-European solh₂wós, from Proto-Indo-European sōlh₂- — mercy, comfort; comfort, mercy.
Ancestry of “holocaust”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anglo-Norman | holocauste | — |
| 2 | Late Latin | holocaustum | a burnt offering wholly consumed by fire;... |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | ὁλόκαυστος | wholly burnt |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ὅλος | whole, entire, perfect, complete; absolute,... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | solh₂wós | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | sōlh₂- | mercy, comfort; comfort, mercy |