Etymograph

English

mandorla

Mandorla comes from Italian mandorla ‘almond (fruit/nut)’, and goes back to Ancient Greek ἀμυγδάλη.

  1. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἀμυγδάλη‘almond’
  2. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEamygdala‘almond tree’
  3. Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CE*amandulareconstructed
  4. Italianc. 1300–presentmandorla‘almond (fruit/nut)’
  5. Englishearliest quotation 2005same form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἀμυγδάλη‘almond’
  2. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEamygdala‘almond tree’
  3. Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CE*amandulareconstructed
  4. Italianc. 1300–presentmandorla‘almond (fruit/nut)’
  5. Englishearliest quotation 2005same form

Earliest quotation: 2005, Andreas Andreopoulos: “In addition, the mandorla may be considered on a…”

Linked words

through Latin amygdala ‘almond tree’

almond, amygdala, 7 more

Today it means

noun A vesica piscis-shaped aureola that surrounds the figures of Christ and the Virgin Mary, or represents God the Father (who is not traditionally depicted) in traditional Eastern Christian art.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Ancient Greek ἀμυγδάλη / mandorla

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