Etymology Explorer › Middle French

Where does “exorciste” come from?

exorciste (Middle French) comes from Latin exorcista, from Ancient Greek ἐξορκιστής, from Ancient Greek ἐξορκίζω, from Ancient Greek ἐξ, from Ancient Greek Ὕπνος, from Proto-Hellenic húpnos, from Proto-Indo-European supnós, from Proto-Indo-European swóp-r̥ ~ swép-n̥s — to sleep.

Ancestry of “exorciste”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinexorcistaexorcist
2Ancient Greekἐξορκιστής—
3Ancient Greekἐξορκίζωbanish an evil spirit; bind by oath
4Ancient GreekἐξAlternative form of ἐκ; out; from, out of
5Ancient GreekὝπνος—
6Proto-Hellenichúpnos—
7Proto-Indo-Europeansupnóssleep; death
8Proto-Indo-Europeanswóp-r̥ ~ swép-n̥s—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanswep-to sleep
Every word from Proto-Indo-European swep- →