Etymograph

English

Socrates

Socrates comes from Ancient Greek Σωκράτης, from κρᾰ́τος ‘power’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kret- ‘strength’.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kret-‘strength’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*krét-osreconstructed
  3. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκρᾰ́τοςkrắtos‘power’
  4. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEΣωκράτηςSōkrátēs
  5. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CESocrates
  6. Englishearliest quotation 1996same form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kret-‘strength’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*krét-osreconstructed
  3. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκρᾰ́τοςkrắtos‘power’
  4. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEΣωκράτηςSōkrátēs
  5. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CESocrates
  6. Englishearliest quotation 1996same form

Earliest quotation: 1996, John M. Cooper, Introduction: “Accordingly, even though readers always and understandably speak of…”

The story

Via Latin Socrates, from Ancient Greek Σωκράτης (Sōkrátēs).

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *kret- ‘strength’

hard, rather, 45 more

through Proto-Indo-European *krét-os

aristocracy, 34 more

through Ancient Greek κρᾰ́τος ‘power’

bureaucracy, bureaucratic, bureaucrat, 27 more

Today it means

name A male given name from Ancient Greek.

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

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *kret- / Socrates

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