English
blasphemy
Blasphemy comes from Ancient Greek βλασφημία ‘profanity’, from βλασφημέω ‘to slander’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)mel- ‘false, erroneous’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)mel-‘false, erroneous’root as named
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*ml̥-s-bʰeh₂-mo-sreconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*mləspʰāmosreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEβλάσφημος‘slanderous, libellous’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEβλασφημέωblasphēméō‘to slander’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEβλασφημίαblasphēmía‘profanity’
- Ecclesiastical Latinc. 200–1500blasphēmia
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400blasfemie
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1920blasphemy
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)mel-‘false, erroneous’root as named
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*ml̥-s-bʰeh₂-mo-sreconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*mləspʰāmosreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEβλάσφημος‘slanderous, libellous’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEβλασφημέωblasphēméō‘to slander’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEβλασφημίαblasphēmía‘profanity’
- Ecclesiastical Latinc. 200–1500blasphēmia
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400blasfemie
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1920blasphemy
Earliest quotation: 1920, John Rougier Cohu, The Bible and Modern Thought: “Had God cancelled His everlasting Covenant with Israel? The…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *(s)mel- ‘false, erroneous’
through Ancient Greek βλασφημέω ‘to slander’
Today it means
noun An act of irreverence or contempt toward a god or toward something considered sacred; an impious act, utterance, view, etc.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *(s)mel- / blasphemy