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
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medieval Latin | cimiterium | — |
| 2 | Late Latin | coemeterium | cemetery, churchyard, burial ground |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | κοιμητήριον | sleeping chamber |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | κοιμάω | put to sleep, lull; to sleep |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱey- | to be lying down; to settle |