English
hypogeum
Hypogeum comes from Latin hypogaeum ‘crypt, vault’, from Ancient Greek ὑπόγειος ‘underground’, and ultimately from Proto-Hellenic *gaya.
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*gayareconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEγῆ‘land”, “earth’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEὑπόγειοςhupógeios‘underground’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEὑπόγειονhupógeion‘vault, crypt’noun use of neuter singular of ὑπόγειος
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEhypogaeum‘crypt, vault’
- Englishearliest quotation 1969hypogeum
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*gayareconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEγῆ‘land”, “earth’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEὑπόγειοςhupógeios‘underground’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEὑπόγειονhupógeion‘vault, crypt’noun use of neuter singular of ὑπόγειος
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEhypogaeum‘crypt, vault’
- Englishearliest quotation 1969hypogeum
Earliest quotation: 1969, JG Ballard: “Contour: the unique parameters of Karen’s body – beckoning…”
Linked words
through Ancient Greek γῆ ‘land”, “earth’
Today it means
noun An underground room or cavern (also used figuratively).
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Hellenic *gaya / hypogeum