Etymograph

English

Persephone

Persephone comes from Ancient Greek Περσεφόνη, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *pers- ‘sheaf of corn, grain, seed’.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pers-‘sheaf of corn, grain, seed’reconstructed
  2. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEΠερσεφόνηPersephónē
  3. Englishearliest quotation 2008Persephone

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pers-‘sheaf of corn, grain, seed’reconstructed
  2. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEΠερσεφόνηPersephónē
  3. Englishearliest quotation 2008Persephone

Earliest quotation: 2008, Gaynor McGrath, Lemniscate: “‘My name is Persephone’ she says, ‘but in England…”

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *pers- ‘sheaf of corn, grain, seed’

force, foss

Today it means

name A minor deity, the queen of the Underworld/Hades, and goddess of the seasons and vegetation. Originally named Kore/Core, she is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter; and the wife of Hades. Her Roman counterpart is Proserpina.

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

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *pers- / Persephone

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