Where does “encyclopaedia” come from?
encyclopaedia (New Latin) comes from Ancient Greek παιδείᾱ, from Ancient Greek παῖς, from Proto-Hellenic pā́wits, from Proto-Indo-European péh₂wids, from Proto-Indo-European peh₂w- — few, little; smallness.
encyclopaedia (New Latin): general education; encyclopedia
Definitions
- general education; encyclopedia
Ancestry of “encyclopaedia”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Ancient Greek | παιδείᾱ | rearing of a child, education; child-rearing,... |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | παῖς | child, son, daughter; young person, child, boy,... |
| 3 | Proto-Hellenic | pā́wits | child |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | péh₂wids | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | peh₂w- | few, little; smallness |
Words derived from “encyclopaedia”