English
acacia
Acacia comes from Ancient Greek ἀκακία ‘shittah tree’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἀκακίαakakía‘shittah tree’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEacacia
- Englishtodayacacia
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἀκακίαakakía‘shittah tree’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEacacia
- Englishtodayacacia
first attested First attested before 1398 (as stated in the etymology)
The story
First attested before 1398.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- ‘sharp’
hear, edge, egg, ear, hammer, eager, axe, acid, acute, oxide, vinegar, mediocre, acne, mediocrity, paragon, acetate, acupuncture, hark, exacerbate, acumen, acme, acuity, roselle, acyl, acrimony, rosacea, exacerbation, acerbic, acrid, 72 more
Today it means
noun A shrub or tree of the tribe Acacieae.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek ἀκακία / acacia