English
Media
Media comes from Ancient Greek Μηδία, from Μῆδος ‘an inhabitant of Media’, and ultimately from Old Persian Old Persian form.
- Old Persianc. 600–300 BCEOld Persian formtransliteratedoriginal script Old Persian form, a transliteration‘Median’
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEΜῆδος‘an inhabitant of Media’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEΜηδίαMēdía
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEMēdia
- EnglishtodayMedia
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Old Persianc. 600–300 BCEOld Persian formtransliteratedoriginal script Old Persian form, a transliteration‘Median’
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEΜῆδος‘an inhabitant of Media’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEΜηδίαMēdía
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEMēdia
- EnglishtodayMedia
The story
Borrowed from Latin Mēdia, from Ancient Greek Μηδία (Mēdía), from Μῆδος (Mêdos), from *Mada (vocalization uncertain), the Old Median language self-designator signifying speakers of the Median language.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *médʰyos ‘middle’
mean, mid, midst, medium, medal, demi, maidan, mezzanine, moiety, moyen, meso, medulla, intermezzo, medio, 33 more
Today it means
name A geographic region and ancient satrapy of the Persian Empire in northwestern Iran, originally inhabited by the Medes.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Old Persian Old Persian form / Media