English
sin
Sin comes from Old English synn, from Proto-Germanic *sunjō ‘truth, excuse’, from PIE *h₁sónts ‘being, true’, from *h₁es- ‘to be’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁es-‘to be’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁sónts‘being, true’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁s-ónt-ih₂reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*sunjō‘truth, excuse’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*sunnjureconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150synn‘sin’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500synne
- Englishearliest quotation 1611sin
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁es-‘to be’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁sónts‘being, true’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁s-ónt-ih₂reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*sunjō‘truth, excuse’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*sunnjureconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150synn‘sin’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500synne
- Englishearliest quotation 1611sin
Earliest quotation: 1611, The Holy Bible, London: […] Robert Barker: “For he hath made him to be ſinne for…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₁es- ‘to be’
is, am, potential, interest, soothe, swastika, sooth, asana, quintessence, 11 more
through Old English synn
Today it means
noun A violation of divine will or religious law.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₁es- / sin