Where does “rosmary” come from?
rosmary (Middle English) comes from Middle English rosmarine, from Old French rosmarin, from Latin rōsmarīnus, from Latin marīnus, from Ancient Greek Μαρῖνος, from Latin marinus, from Latin -inus, from Proto-Italic -īnos — adjectival suffix.
Ancestry of “rosmary”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | rosmarine | — |
| 2 | Old French | rosmarin | — |
| 3 | Latin | rōsmarīnus | rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus, syn. Rosmarinus officinalis) |
| 4 | Latin | marīnus | marine; of or pertaining to the sea |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | Μαρῖνος | known from the ancient Roman and Byzantine Periods |
| 6 | Latin | marinus | marine; of or pertaining to the sea |
| 7 | Latin | -inus | Of or pertaining to; -ine |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | -īnos | of/belonging to |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | -iHnos | Creates adjectives of materials |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | -no- | adjectival suffix |