English
syllable
Syllable comes from Anglo-Norman sillable, from Ancient Greek συλλαβή ‘that which holds together, i.e. a girdle’, and ultimately from Proto-Hellenic *hlagʷ-.
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*hlagʷ-reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEλαμβάνωlambánō‘to take’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσυλλαμβάνωsullambánō‘to gather together’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσυλλαβήsullabḗ‘that which holds together, i.e. a girdle’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsyllaba
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400sillebe
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400sillable
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500syllable
- Englishearliest quotation 1613same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*hlagʷ-reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEλαμβάνωlambánō‘to take’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσυλλαμβάνωsullambánō‘to gather together’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσυλλαβήsullabḗ‘that which holds together, i.e. a girdle’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsyllaba
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400sillebe
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400sillable
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500syllable
- Englishearliest quotation 1613same form
Earliest quotation: 1613, William Shakespeare, The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight: “Th'Archbyſhop Is the Kings hand, and tongue, and who…”
Linked words
through Proto-Hellenic *hlagʷ-
through Ancient Greek λαμβάνω ‘to take’
through Ancient Greek συλλαβή ‘that which holds together, i.e. a girdle’
Today it means
noun A unit of human speech which often forms words corresponding to one opening of the mouth; a vowel and its surrounding consonants.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Hellenic *hlagʷ- / syllable