Etymograph

English

Jessica

Jessica may come from Hebrew יִסְכָּה ‘Iscah in Genesis 11:29, Jescha in the Wycliffe…’.

  1. Hebrew1880s–presentיִסְכָּהyiská‘Iscah in Genesis 11:29, Jescha in the Wycliffe version’uncertain
  2. Englishearliest quotation c. 1596–1598Jessica

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Hebrew1880s–presentיִסְכָּהyiská‘Iscah in Genesis 11:29, Jescha in the Wycliffe version’uncertain
  2. Englishearliest quotation c. 1596–1598Jessica

Earliest quotation: c. 1596–1598, William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice: “Lorenzo: In such a night / Did Jessica steal…”

first attested First used by William Shakespeare in Merchant of Venice in the early 17th century, probably from Hebrew יִסְכָּה (yiská, “Iscah in Genesis 11:29, Jescha in the Wycliffe version”), a proper name meaning "he will see/behold/look for", the 3ms imperfect form of a verb ultimately from the root ס־כ־ה (s-k-h), itself an alternative form of the root שׂ־כ־ה (ś-k-h), both of which mean "to see, behold, look for" (as stated in the etymology)

The story

First used by William Shakespeare in Merchant of Venice in the early 17th century, probably from Hebrew יִסְכָּה (yiská, “Iscah in Genesis 11:29, Jescha in the Wycliffe version”), a proper name meaning "he will see/behold/look for", the 3ms imperfect form of a verb ultimately from the root ס־כ־ה (s-k-h), itself an alternative form of the root שׂ־כ־ה (ś-k-h), both of which mean "to see, behold, look for".

Every English word from Hebrew יִסְכָּה

Today it means

name A female given name from Hebrew.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Hebrew יִסְכָּה / Jessica

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