English
phrase
Phrase comes from Late Latin phrasis ‘diction’, and goes back to Ancient Greek φράσις ‘manner of expression’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEφράσιςphrásis‘manner of expression’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEphrasis‘diction’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1603–1606phrase
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEφράσιςphrásis‘manner of expression’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEphrasis‘diction’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1603–1606phrase
Earliest quotation: c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, The Tragedie of King Lear: “Thou speak'st / In better phrase and matter than…”
Every English word from Ancient Greek φράσις
Today it means
noun A short written or spoken expression.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek φράσις / phrase