English
stygian
Stygian comes from Ancient Greek Στύγιος ‘relating to Styx’, and goes back to Στύξ.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEΣτύξStúx‘Styx, chief river of underworld’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEΣτύγιοςStúgios‘relating to Styx’
- Englishearliest quotation 1913stygian
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEΣτύξStúx‘Styx, chief river of underworld’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEΣτύγιοςStúgios‘relating to Styx’
- Englishearliest quotation 1913stygian
Earliest quotation: 1913, –May, The Gods of Mars: “The things which the Stygian darkness hid from my…”
Formed from stygius + -ian
Every English word from Ancient Greek Στύξ
Today it means
adj Infernal or hellish.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek Στύξ / stygian