hagiography etymology

Etymology:

  • Greek "hagios" (holy) + "graphein" (to write)

Meaning:

A written account of the life and deeds of a saint or holy person, typically focusing on their religious virtues and miracles.

Origin:

The term "hagiography" was first coined in the 4th century AD by the Christian writer Jerome. It refers to the practice of writing accounts of the lives of saints, which became popular in the early Christian church.

Hagiographies served several purposes:

  • To celebrate and venerate the saints
  • To inspire and instruct the faithful
  • To provide examples of Christian piety and virtue
  • To authenticate the authority of the church and its leaders

Early hagiographies were often based on oral traditions, but over time, they became more formalized and written in a style similar to biographies. They typically included accounts of the saint's birth, childhood, conversion, miracles, martyrdom (if applicable), and death.

Hagiography has long been a significant genre in Christian literature, and it continues to be produced today. However, the term has also been used more broadly to refer to any idealized or reverent account of a person's life.

hagiography relate terms

  • carve

    Etymology Middle English carven to cut wood or stone Old English ceorfan to cu

  • hagio

    Etymology Greek hagios ἅγιος meaning holy sacred consecrated Meaning

  • file

    Etymology File originates from the Middle English word filen which itself derives fro

  • lief

    Etymology Old English leof beloved dear Proto Germanic leubô Proto Indo Europ

  • life

    Etymology The word life originates from the Old English word līf which is derived f

  • biography

    Etymology From the Greek bios life and graphein to write Meaning A writt

  • convenience

    Etymology The word convenience is derived from late Middle English conveniens aroun

  • ambition

    Etymology and Meaning of Ambition The word ambition comes from the Latin word ambitio

  • precept

    Etymology The word precept comes from the Latin word praeceptum which means comman

  • respite

    Etymology of Respite The word respite comes from the Latin word respicere meaning t

  • conjunction

    Etymology The word conjunction comes from the Latin word conjunctio which means jo