English
gelotologist
Gelotologist comes from Latin zelus ‘laughter’, from Ancient Greek ζῆλος ‘eager rivalry, zealous imitation, emulation, a…’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *yeh₂- ‘to go, travel, search, inquire’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*yeh₂-‘to go, travel, search, inquire’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*yéh₂losreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEζῆλος‘eager rivalry, zealous imitation, emulation, a noble passion’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEzelus‘laughter’
- Englishearliest quotation 1951gelotologist
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*yeh₂-‘to go, travel, search, inquire’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*yéh₂losreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEζῆλος‘eager rivalry, zealous imitation, emulation, a noble passion’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEzelus‘laughter’
- Englishearliest quotation 1951gelotologist
Earliest quotation: 1951, Albert Rapp, The origins of wit and humor: “However there are moral ramifications upon which a mere…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *yeh₂- ‘to go, travel, search, inquire’
through Ancient Greek ζῆλος ‘eager rivalry, zealous imitation, emulation, a…’
through Latin zelus ‘laughter’
Today it means
noun A person who studies humour and laughter
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *yeh₂- / gelotologist