Etymograph

English

topiary

Topiary comes from Latin topiarius ‘of or relating to ornamental gardening’, from Ancient Greek τόπια ‘artistic representation in which natural or…’, and ultimately from τόπος.

  1. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτόποςtópos‘place’
  2. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτόπιονtópion‘field, landscape’
  3. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτόπιαtópia‘artistic representation in which natural or artificial features of a place are used as…’plural of τόπιον
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEtopia‘ornamental gardening, landscape painting’
  5. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEtopiarius‘of or relating to ornamental gardening’
  6. Englishearliest quotation 1910topiary

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτόποςtópos‘place’
  2. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτόπιονtópion‘field, landscape’
  3. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτόπιαtópia‘artistic representation in which natural or artificial features of a place are used as…’plural of τόπιον
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEtopia‘ornamental gardening, landscape painting’
  5. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEtopiarius‘of or relating to ornamental gardening’
  6. Englishearliest quotation 1910topiary

Earliest quotation: 1910, American homes and gardens: Volume 7:: “As the topiary art has been allowed to practically…”

The story

The adjective use dates to 1592, the noun use dates to 1908.

Linked words

through Ancient Greek τόπος ‘place’

topic, utopia, dystopia, topos, 6 more

Today it means

adj Of, or relating to art of topiaries.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Ancient Greek τόπος / topiary

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