Etymograph

English

cube

Cube comes from Old French cube, from Latin cubus ‘a cube’, and ultimately from Ancient Greek κύβος.

  1. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκύβοςkúbos
  2. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcubus‘a cube’
  3. Old Frenchc. 842–1400cube
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1953same form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκύβοςkúbos
  2. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcubus‘a cube’
  3. Old Frenchc. 842–1400cube
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1953same form

Earliest quotation: 1953, Samuel Beckett, Watt: “From this severe trial Mr. Nackybal emerged with distinction,…”

Linked words

through Latin cubus ‘a cube’

cubism, 1 more

Another origin of cube

  1. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*kubāō‘to lie down’reconstructed
  2. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcubōas cubare‘to lie down’
  3. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcubiculum‘a small bedchamber or lounge’
  4. Englishtodaycube

Clipped form of cubicle (with intentional reference to their common shape per cube, etymology 1), which from Latin cubiculum (‘a small bedchamber or lounge’), from cubare (‘to lie down’).

Today it means

noun A regular polyhedron having six identical square faces.

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

Etymograph / Ancient Greek κύβος / cube

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