English
crony
Crony comes from Ancient Greek χρόνιος ‘perennial, long-lasting’, and goes back to χρόνος ‘time’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEχρόνος‘time’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEχρόνιοςkhrónios‘perennial, long-lasting’
- Englishearliest quotation 1819crony
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEχρόνος‘time’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEχρόνιοςkhrónios‘perennial, long-lasting’
- Englishearliest quotation 1819crony
Earliest quotation: 1819, Geoffrey Crayon pseudonym; Washington Ir, Rip Van Winkle: “Rip now resumed his old walks and habits; he…”
The story
Coined between 1655 and 1665 from Ancient Greek χρόνιος (khrónios, “perennial, long-lasting”); see also chrono- (‘time’). Early spellings included chrony, as in 1665 diary by Samuel Pepys, supporting the Greek origin.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰer- ‘to seize, enclose’
girl, card, chart, rocket, chorus, cartoon, cartel, cartridge, carte, carton, urchin, cartography, germanium, cartouche, 33 more
through Proto-Indo-European *gʰr-ono-
through Ancient Greek χρόνος ‘time’
Today it means
noun A close friend.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek χρόνος / crony