English
Zoë
Zoë comes from Ancient Greek ζωή ‘life’, and goes back to ζῶ ‘to live’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEζῶ‘to live’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEζωήzōḗ‘life’
- Englishearliest quotation 1907Zoë
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history not traced here.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEζῶ‘to live’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEζωήzōḗ‘life’
- Englishearliest quotation 1907Zoë
Earliest quotation: 1907, Francis Marion Crawford, Arethusa: “Zoë!" The high-born girl repeated her own name in…”
The story
It was the name of a third century martyr venerated in the Orthodox Church.
Linked words
through Ancient Greek ζωή ‘life’
Today it means
name A female given name from Ancient Greek.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek ζῶ / Zoë