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Etymology
Dictionary
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Origin and Etymology of the word
ZODIAC.
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From An Etymology
Dictionary of the English Language, by Walter W. Skeat, 1893 |
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ZODIAC,
an imaginary belt in the heavens, containing the twelve
constellations called signs. (F.,—L.,—Gk.)
M. E. zodiac, zodiak, Chaucer, On the Astrolabe. prol. 65.—F.
zodiaque, 'the zodiack,' Cot.—Lat.
zodiacus.—Gk.
ζωδιακός, adj., of or belonging to animals, whence
ὁ ζωδιακός, the
zodiac circle; so called from containing the twelve constellations
represented by animals.—Gk.
ζῷδιον, a small animal; dimin. of
ζῷον, a living creature, an
animal; where ζῷον
is neut. of
ζῶος, living; allied to
ζωή, life,
and
ζάειν, ζῆ (Ionic
ζώειν), to live.
Curtius, ii. 96,
says that ζάειν
'stands for
διάειν, and its most natural derivation
is from the
✔GI (Zend
jí ), to live.' See Victuals. Der.
zodiac-al, adj.
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| 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
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| 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. |
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