English
epilepsy
Epilepsy comes from Ancient Greek ἐπιλαμβάνω ‘to seize’, from λαμβάνω ‘to take’, and ultimately from Proto-Hellenic *hlagʷ-.
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*hlagʷ-reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEλαμβάνωlambánō‘to take’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐπιλαμβάνωepilambánō‘to seize’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐπιληψίᾱepilēpsíā
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEepilēpsia
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400epilepsie
- Frenchc. 1600–presentépilepsie
- Englishearliest quotation 1651epilepsy
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*hlagʷ-reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEλαμβάνωlambánō‘to take’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐπιλαμβάνωepilambánō‘to seize’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐπιληψίᾱepilēpsíā
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEepilēpsia
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400epilepsie
- Frenchc. 1600–presentépilepsie
- Englishearliest quotation 1651epilepsy
Earliest quotation: 1651, Jeremy Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living. […]: “Epilepsies, or fallings and reelings, and beastly vomitings. The…”
The story
Since 16th century; borrowed from French épilepsie, from Latin epilēpsia, from Ancient Greek ἐπιληψίᾱ (epilēpsíā), from ἐπιλαμβάνω (epilambánō, “to seize”), from ἐπι- (epi-, “upon”) + λαμβάνω (lambánō, “to take”).
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *(s)leh₂gʷ- ‘to take, to grasp’
through Proto-Hellenic *hlagʷ-
through Ancient Greek λαμβάνω ‘to take’
Today it means
noun A medical condition in which the sufferer experiences seizures (or convulsions) and blackouts.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Hellenic *hlagʷ- / epilepsy