English
erotesis
Erotesis comes from Ancient Greek ἐρώτησις ‘questioning, interrogation’, and goes back to ἐρωτάω.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἐρωτάωerōtáō‘I question’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐρώτησιςerṓtēsis‘questioning, interrogation’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEerotesis
- Englishearliest quotation 1759same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἐρωτάωerōtáō‘I question’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐρώτησιςerṓtēsis‘questioning, interrogation’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEerotesis
- Englishearliest quotation 1759same form
Earliest quotation: 1759, Laurence Sterne, Gentleman: “he would ſometimes break off in a ſudden and…”
Every English word from Ancient Greek ἐρωτάω
Today it means
noun A figure of speech whereby a question is asked in confident expectation of a negative answer.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek ἐρωτάω / erotesis