Etymograph

English

Mithraism

Mithraism comes from French mithriaique ‘Mithraic’, and goes back to Mithra.

  1. Frenchc. 1600–presentMithra
  2. French, derivedc. 1600–presentmithriaique‘Mithraic’
  3. French, derivedc. 1600–presentmithriacisme
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1920Mithraism

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Frenchc. 1600–presentMithra
  2. French, derivedc. 1600–presentmithriaique‘Mithraic’
  3. French, derivedc. 1600–presentmithriacisme
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1920Mithraism

Earliest quotation: 1920, Edward Carpenter, Pagan and Christian Creeds: “It has left many monuments of itself here in…”

The story

Cumont was convinced that Mithraism was "Roman Mazdaism", hence his (and earlier) treatments of Latin Mithras and Avestan Mithra as synonyms, and the continuing de-inflection of the Latin name (vocative) as French Mithra.

Every English word from French Mithra

Today it means

name An astrology-based, middle-platonic mystery religion of the 1st-4th century Roman Empire that claimed to have been founded by Zoroaster, admitted only men, and was especially popular among the Roman military.

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

Etymograph / French Mithra / Mithraism

Shirt and support for this word