English
passion
Passion comes from Middle English passioun, from Old French passion, from Latin passiō ‘suffering’, from patior ‘to suffer’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*peh₁-‘to hurt’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpatior‘to suffer’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEpassus‘suffered’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEpassiō‘suffering’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400passion
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500passioun‘suffering; passion’
- Englishearliest quotation 1543passion
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*peh₁-‘to hurt’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpatior‘to suffer’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEpassus‘suffered’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEpassiō‘suffering’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400passion
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500passioun‘suffering; passion’
- Englishearliest quotation 1543passion
Earliest quotation: 1543, Henry VIII of England, The Nynthe Article. The Holy Catholike Churche.: “Moreouer the perfit beleue of this article, worketh in…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *pet-
through Latin patior ‘to suffer, endure, tolerate’
patient, patience, compatible, compatibility, compassionate, 7 more
Today it means
noun A true desire sustained or prolonged.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *peh₁- / passion