English
Holy Ghost
Holy Ghost comes from Middle English Holi Gost, and goes back to Old English Hāliġ Gāst.
- Old Englishc. 450–1150Hāliġ Gāst
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500Holi Gost
- Englishearliest quotation 1611Holy Ghost
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Old Englishc. 450–1150Hāliġ Gāst
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500Holi Gost
- Englishearliest quotation 1611Holy Ghost
Earliest quotation: 1611, The Holy Bible, London: […] Robert Barker: “Now the birth of Iesus Christ was on this…”
Made of the words Holy + Ghost
Proto-Indo-European *kéh₂ilos ‘intact’
…
Proto-Germanic *hailagaz ‘holy’
Proto-West Germanic *hailag ‘holy’
Old English hāleġ ‘holy’
Middle English ali
English Holy
Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰéysd-
…
Proto-Germanic *gaistaz ‘terror’
Proto-West Germanic *gaist ‘ghost’
Old English gāst ‘breath’
Middle English gost ‘a spiritual being’
English Ghost
Every English word from Old English Hāliġ Gāst
Today it means
name The person (hypostasis) of the Trinity or Godhead corresponding to divine essence, which becomes present in and among the faithful (particularly inspired prophets) and is considered to proceed either (Eastern Orthodoxy) from God the Father alone or (Roman Catholicism) from Him together with God the Son.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Old English Hāliġ Gāst / Holy Ghost