Etymologizing 21 common words utilized in today's world - From acrobat to cynicism to melancholy to music

acrobat

From the word akri (άκρη — “tip” or “edge”) and the verb vaino (βαίνω — “to walk”), an acrobat is someone who walks on the edge, often on tiptoe.

cemetery

This example actually comes from the Greek word koimame (κοιμάμαι — “to sleep”), which is also the root of another word, koimitirion (κοιμητήριο — “dormitory”).

cynicism

The word "cynicism" comes from the Greek word "kynikos," which means "dog-like." This is because the Cynics, a school of ancient Greek philosophy, were known for their simple, ascetic lifestyle and their outspoken criticism of social conventions.

democracy

Ahh, good old democracy. Combining demos (δήμος — “people”) and kratos (κράτος — “power”), the meaning of this quintessential Greek word used in English is simply put: power to the people!

dinosaur

How would you describe a dinosaur? If you came up with something similar to “fear-inspiring reptile,” congratulations. The name we use to call these magnificent, ancient creatures comes from the Greek words deinos (δεινός — “terrible”) and savra (σαύρα — “lizard”).

Europe

According to Ancient Greek mythology, Europe was a mythological princess with big, beautiful eyes, a trait reflected in the very origins of her name: evrys (ευρύς — “broad”) and ops (ωψ — “eye”).

galaxy

Now that we’re on the subject, many Greek words used in English have mythological origins. Galaxy, a.k.a. the Milky Way, comes from the Greek word for milk, gala (γάλα).

hermaphrodite

Speaking of gods, Hermaphrodite was the son of Hermes and Aphrodite, who apparently couldn’t be bothered with finding a new name for their child.

marathon

Thousands of long-distance footraces take place every year around the world. Officially, a marathon is 42.1 km (or 26.1 miles) long, in a nod to the actual distance between two Greek cities.

marmalade

Although English took this word from Portuguese, you can trace it further back to the Greek words meli (μέλι — “honey”) and milo (μήλο — “apple”). Some sources say that the Ancient Greeks liked cooking quinces (marmelos in Portuguese) with honey.

melancholy

This common Greek word used in English has a somewhat bizarre etymology. Coming from the Greek words melas (μέλας — “black”) and khole (χολή — bile), it was once thought that when your spleen produces an excess of black bile, you feel gloomy.

music

Music literally means art of the Muses, the nine Greek goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences. The concept of a museum was originally intended to be a shrine for the Muses.

narcissism

Narcissism comes from the Ancient Greek mythological figure of Narcissus, a young man who fell in love with himself when he saw his reflection in a lake. One nymph who fell passionately in love with him withered away into nothingness when he ignored her, leaving no trace behind but her voice. Her name was Echo.

panic

The word panic comes from the name of the Ancient Greek goat-god Pan, who spread terror among nymphs like Echo.

phobia

Coming from another word for terror, a phobia is an irrational fear — and there are many strange phobias with names also derived from Greek.

planet

Another word for the heavens, planet comes from the Greek verb planomai (πλανώμαι), which means “to wander.”

sarcasm

From the Greek word for flesh, sarx (σάρξ), sarcasm describes the (metaphorical) act of stripping someone’s flesh off with a sneering comment.

schizophrenia

Combining the words schizein (σχίζειν — “to split”) and phren (φρην — “mind”), the meaning of this particular Greek word used in English is pretty self-explanatory.

sycophant

Unfortunately, the origin of this example is a bit obscure, as no one knows for sure where it comes from. One story ties it to the word syko (σύκο — “fig”) and the verb phainein (φαίνειν — “to show”), back when stealing and exporting figs was considered a crime.

tele + word

thespian