English
Levite
Levite comes from Ancient Greek Λευῑ̈́της, and goes back to Biblical Hebrew לֵוִי.
- Biblical Hebrewc. 1000–200 BCEלֵוִיlēwî
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEΛευῑ̈́ς
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEΛευῑ̈́τηςLeuī̈́tēs
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CELevītēs
- Englishearliest quotation 1611Levite
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Biblical Hebrewc. 1000–200 BCEלֵוִיlēwî
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEΛευῑ̈́ς
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEΛευῑ̈́τηςLeuī̈́tēs
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CELevītēs
- Englishearliest quotation 1611Levite
Earliest quotation: 1611, The Holy Bible, London: […] Robert Barker: “And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah…”
Every English word from Biblical Hebrew לֵוִי
Today it means
noun A member of the Hebrew tribe of Levi, particularly in its role as a priestly caste.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Biblical Hebrew לֵוִי / Levite