Where does “synagogue” come from?
synagogue (Middle French) comes from Old French synagoge, from Latin synagōga, from Ancient Greek συναγωγή, from Ancient Greek συνάγω, from Ancient Greek ἄγω, from Proto-Hellenic ágō, from Proto-Indo-European h₂éǵeti, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ- — to drive.
Ancestry of “synagogue”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old French | synagoge | — |
| 2 | Latin | synagōga | — |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | συναγωγή | gathering, collection; a gathering of people,... |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | συνάγω | to bring together, gather together; gather... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | ἄγω | To lead, fetch, bring along , take with; To carry... |
| 6 | Proto-Hellenic | ágō | to lead, to guide |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂éǵeti | to be driving |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eǵ- | to drive |