English
Minotaur
Minotaur comes from Ancient Greek Μινώταυρος.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEΜινώταυροςMinṓtauros
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEMīnōtaurus
- Old Englishc. 450–1150Minotaurus
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500Minotaure
- EnglishtodayMinotaur
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEΜινώταυροςMinṓtauros
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEMīnōtaurus
- Old Englishc. 450–1150Minotaurus
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500Minotaure
- EnglishtodayMinotaur
A compound of Μίνως ‘king of Crete’ + ταῦρος ‘bull’
Proto-Semitic *ṯawr- ‘bull, ox’
Proto-Indo-European *táwros ‘wild bull, aurochs’
Proto-Hellenic *táuros ‘bull’
Ancient Greek ταῦρος ‘bull’
Every English word from Ancient Greek Μινώταυρος
Today it means
name A monster, half man and half bull, who dwelled in the labyrinth in Crete and who was killed by Theseus.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek Μινώταυρος / Minotaur