English
euphrasy
Euphrasy comes from Ancient Greek εὐφρασία ‘good cheer’, from εὐφραίνω ‘to gladden’, and ultimately from φρήν ‘the midriff, stomach and lower chest or breast’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEφρήν‘the midriff, stomach and lower chest or breast’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEεὐφραίνω‘to gladden’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEεὐφρασίαeuphrasía‘good cheer’
- Englishearliest quotation 1667euphrasy
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEφρήν‘the midriff, stomach and lower chest or breast’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEεὐφραίνω‘to gladden’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEεὐφρασίαeuphrasía‘good cheer’
- Englishearliest quotation 1667euphrasy
Earliest quotation: 1667, John Milton: “But to nobler sights Michael from Adam's eyes the…”
Linked words
through Ancient Greek φρήν ‘the midriff, stomach and lower chest or breast’
Today it means
noun The eyebright, Euphrasia officinalis.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek φρήν / euphrasy