Where does “licorice” come from?
licorice (Middle English) comes from Middle English lycorys, from Old French licoresse, from Latin liquiritia, from Latin glycyrrhiza, from Ancient Greek γλυκύρριζα, from Ancient Greek γλυκύς, from Proto-Hellenic *dlukús.
licorice (Middle English): Alternative form of lycorys
Definitions
- Alternative form of lycorys
Ancestry of “licorice”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | lycorys | Liquorice root; Liquorice |
| 2 | Old French | licoresse | licorice |
| 3 | Latin | liquiritia | liquorice |
| 4 | Latin | glycyrrhiza | licorice root |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | γλυκύρριζα | licorice |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | γλυκύς | sweet |
| 7 | Proto-Hellenic | *dlukús | — |