English
hymeneal
Hymeneal comes from Latin hymenaeus, and goes back to Ancient Greek ὑμεναῖος ‘matrimonial’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEὑμεναῖοςhumenaîos‘matrimonial’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEhymenaeus
- Englishearliest quotation 1717hymeneal
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEὑμεναῖοςhumenaîos‘matrimonial’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEhymenaeus
- Englishearliest quotation 1717hymeneal
Earliest quotation: 1717, Alexander Pope: “For her white virgins hymeneals sing, / To sounds…”
Formed from -al
Every English word from Ancient Greek ὑμεναῖος
Today it means
adj Pertaining to marriage.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek ὑμεναῖος / hymeneal