English
gnome
Gnome comes from New Latin gnomus ‘a gnome, a creature corresponding to the…’.
- New Latinc. 1500–1900gnomus‘a gnome, a creature corresponding to the pygmies of ancient Greece’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentgnome
- Englishearliest quotation 1811same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- New Latinc. 1500–1900gnomus‘a gnome, a creature corresponding to the pygmies of ancient Greece’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentgnome
- Englishearliest quotation 1811same form
Earliest quotation: 1811, The Medical and Physical Journal: “He adopts the Rosycrusian fancy of Gnomes, spirits which…”
Every English word from New Latin gnomus
Another origin of gnome
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ǵneh₃-‘to recognise, to know’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*ǵn̥h₃sḱéti‘to recognise’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*gignṓskōreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEγιγνώσκωgignṓskō‘to know’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEγνώμηgnṓmē‘thought, opinion’base of γιγνώσκω
- Englishtodaygnome
Today it means
noun An elemental (spirit or corporeal creature associated with a classical element) associated with earth.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / New Latin gnomus / gnome