English
Polybius
Polybius comes from Latin Polybius, and goes back to Ancient Greek βίος ‘life’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEβίος‘life’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEΠολύβιοςliterally ‘much life, long-lived’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEPolybius
- Englishtodaysame form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEβίος‘life’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEΠολύβιοςliterally ‘much life, long-lived’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEPolybius
- Englishtodaysame form
The story
Borrowed from Latin Polybius, from Ancient Greek Πολύβιος (Polúbios, literally “much life, long-lived”).
Linked words
through Proto-Hellenic *gʷīwos
through Ancient Greek βίος ‘life’
biology, biography, antibiotic, bios, biotic, biota, 15 more
Today it means
name A male given name of historical usage, notably borne by Polybius, an Ancient Greek historian of the Hellenistic period.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek βίος / Polybius