English
idiom
Idiom comes from Middle French idiome, from Late Latin idioma, from Ancient Greek ἰδίωμα ‘a peculiarity; peculiar phraseology’, and ultimately from Ancient Greek ἴδιος ‘one’s own, private’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἴδιος‘one's own, private’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἰδιόω‘to make one's own’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἰδίωμαidíōma‘a peculiarity; peculiar phraseology, idiom’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEidioma
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600idiome‘language’
- Englishearliest quotation 2005idiom
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἴδιος‘one's own, private’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἰδιόω‘to make one's own’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἰδίωμαidíōma‘a peculiarity; peculiar phraseology, idiom’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEidioma
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600idiome‘language’
- Englishearliest quotation 2005idiom
Earliest quotation: 2005, Magnus Lie Hetland, Beginning Python: From Novice to Professional: “I have to use the same assignment and call…”
Equivalent to idi- + -om
Proto-Indo-European *swé ‘self’
Proto-Indo-European *swéd-yo-s
Proto-Hellenic *hwédios
Ancient Greek ἴδιος ‘own, personal, distinct’
English idi-
Linked words
pairs
- idiom and idiot both from Ancient Greek ἴδιος ‘one's own’
Every English word from Ancient Greek ἴδιος
Today it means
noun A manner of speaking, a mode of expression peculiar to a language, language family, or group of people.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek ἴδιος / idiom