English
dogma
Dogma comes from Latin dogma ‘philosophical tenet’, from Ancient Greek δοκέω ‘to seem good, think’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- ‘to take’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*deḱ-‘to take’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEδέχομαιdékhomai‘to take, accept’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEδοκέωdokéō‘to seem good, think’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEδόγμαdógma‘opinion, tenet’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdogma‘philosophical tenet’
- Englishearliest quotation 1658same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*deḱ-‘to take’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEδέχομαιdékhomai‘to take, accept’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEδοκέωdokéō‘to seem good, think’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEδόγμαdógma‘opinion, tenet’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdogma‘philosophical tenet’
- Englishearliest quotation 1658same form
Earliest quotation: 1658, Thomas Browne, The Garden of Cyrus. […]. Chapter V.: “According to that Cabaliſticall Dogma: If Abram had not…”
The story
Treated in the 17th and 18th century as Greek, with plural dogmata.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- ‘to take’
doctor, decent, tail, document, dignity, decoration, doctrine, decor, paradox, disdain, indignation, dainty, indignant, doctrinal, docile, décor, dodo, dignitary, deign, digne, dox, docent, 54 more
through Ancient Greek δέχομαι ‘to take, accept’
Today it means
noun An authoritative principle, belief or statement of opinion, especially one considered to be absolutely true and indisputable, regardless of evidence or without evidence to support it.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- / dogma