English
nihilism
Nihilism may come from French nihilisme.
- Frenchc. 1600–presentnihilismeuncertain
- Englishearliest quotation 1839nihilism
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Frenchc. 1600–presentnihilismeuncertain
- Englishearliest quotation 1839nihilism
Earliest quotation: 1839, William Ingalls, Boston: “This great metaphysician [John Locke] considered, our ideas were…”
The story
Probably borrowed from French nihilisme, German Nihilismus, or Late Latin nihilismus; the French, German, and Latin words are derived from Latin nihil (‘indefinite nothing’), from nihilum (‘nothing’), from ne- (prefix negating the principal meaning) + hīlum (‘a trifle; not in the least’). The English word is cognate with Italian nichilismo, Spanish nihilismo, Russian нигили́зм (nigilízm), philosophical doctrine grounded on negation of one or more meaningful aspects of life; emptiness; lack of education and cultural refinement.
Linked words
through Proto-Italic *fī(s)lom
through Latin fīlum ‘thread’
file, filament, fillet, 46 more
through Latin nihilum ‘nothing’
through Latin nihil ‘indefinite nothing’
Today it means
noun The view that all endeavours are devoid of objective meaning.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / French nihilisme / nihilism