|
|
Etymology
Dictionary
|
Origin and Etymology of the word
UNCLE.
|
|
From An Etymology
Dictionary of the English Language, by Walter W. Skeat, 1893 |
|
UNCLE,
the brother of one's father or mother. (F.,—L.) M.E. vncle,
uncle; Rob. of Glouc. p. 58, l. 5.—F. oncle, 'an uncle;'
Cot.—Lat. auunculum, acc. of auunculus, a mother's brother; auunculum
was contracted to aunculum, whence F. oncle. The lit.
sense is 'little grandfather;' it is double dimin. (with suffixes -cu-lu-)
from auus, a grandfather. Orig. an expression of affectionate
relationship, allied to Lat. auere, to be fortunate, used as a word of
greeting; cf. Skt. av, to be pleased. See Ave.
¶
The G. onkel is also from Latin. The E. nuncle, K.
Lear, i. 4. 117, is due to the phr. my nuncle, corrupted from mine
uncle. [†] ADDENDA Anglo-F.
uncle, Gaimar's Chron. l. 188; Year-Books of Edw. I. i. 181.
|
|
|
| Etymology
Dictionary Index |
| A, B,
C, D, E,
F, G, H,
I, J, K,
L, M, N,
O, P, Q,
R, S, T,
U, V, W,
X, Y, Z
|
|
| Key |
| Arab.=Arabic. |
| A.S.=Anglo
Saxon. |
| Bavar.=Bavarian |
| Bohem.=Bohemian. |
| C.=Celtic,
used as a general term for Irish, Gaelic, Welsh, Breton,
Cornish, &c. |
| Corn.=Cornish. |
| Dan.=Danish. |
| Du.=Dutch |
| E.=English. |
| E.E.=Early
English. |
| Europ.=European. |
| F.=French. |
| G.=German. |
| Gk.=Greek. |
| Goth.=Gothic. |
| Icel.=Icelandic. |
| Ital.=Italian. |
| L. or
Lat.=Latin. |
| Lith.
& Lithuan.=Lithuanian. |
| M.E.=Middle
English. |
| M.F.=Middle
French |
| M.H.G.=Middle
High German. |
| Norw.=Norwegian. |
| O.F.=Old
French. |
| O.H.G.=Old
High German. |
| Pers.=Persian. |
| Port.=Portuguese. |
| Scand.=Scandinavian,
used as a general term for Icelandic, Swedish, Danish,
&c. |
| Sc.=Scottish. |
| Skt.=Sanskrit. |
| Span.=Spanish. |
| Swed.=Sweish. |
| Teut.=Teutonic |
| Turk.=Turkish. |
| W.=Welsh. |
|
|
|
|
|
