Etymology Explorer › Old French

Where does “cimitiere” come from?

cimitiere (Old French) comes from Medieval Latin cimiterium, from Late Latin coemeterium, from Ancient Greek κοιμητήριον, from Ancient Greek κοιμάω, from Proto-Indo-European ḱey- — to be lying down; to settle.

Ancestry of “cimitiere”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Medieval Latincimiterium—
2Late Latincoemeteriumcemetery, churchyard, burial ground
3Ancient Greekκοιμητήριονsleeping chamber
4Ancient Greekκοιμάωput to sleep, lull; to sleep
5Proto-Indo-Europeanḱey-to be lying down; to settle

Words derived from “cimitiere”

  • cemetery
  • cemeterial
  • cemeterylike
  • cimiterie
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱey- →