polyglot etymology

Etymology:

  • Greek "poly-" (many) + "glossa" (language)

Meaning:

  • A person who speaks and understands many languages.

Origin:

The term "polyglot" first appeared in the 16th century in Latin, derived from the Greek words "poly-" (many) and "glossa" (language). The plural form of "polyglot" is "polyglots."

Historical Usage:

Throughout history, polyglots have been highly valued for their linguistic skills. In ancient times, they were often employed as translators and ambassadors. In medieval Europe, polyglots were often scholars and religious figures who studied multiple languages to gain access to knowledge from different cultures. In the modern era, polyglots play a crucial role in international communication, diplomacy, and language education.

Famous Polyglots:

Throughout history, there have been many notable polyglots, including:

  • Cardinal Mezzofanti (1774-1849): Claimed to speak over 100 languages.
  • Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826): Spoke English, French, Italian, Latin, and Greek.
  • George Borrow (1803-1881): Known for speaking 40 languages, including Manchu and Cornish.
  • Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910): Spoke 12 languages, including English, French, German, and Russian.

Benefits of Being a Polyglot:

There are numerous cognitive and professional benefits to being a polyglot, including:

  • Improved memory and attention.
  • Increased cultural sensitivity and understanding.
  • Enhanced career opportunities in fields such as translation, diplomacy, and education.
  • Greater appreciation for different perspectives and ways of life.

polyglot relate terms

  • gloss

    Etymology From Middle English glose from Old French glose from Medieval Latin gl

  • gloss

    Etymology From Middle English glose from Old French glose from Medieval Latin gl

  • accomplish

    Etymology From Middle English acomplisshen acomplysshen from Anglo Norman acomplir f

  • complete

    Etymology The word etymology comes from the Greek words étymos meaning true and

  • compliment

    Etymology The word compliment is derived from the Latin word complere which means t

  • comply

    Etymology Old French complir Latin implere to fill Proto Indo European ple

  • depletion

    Etymology Derived from the Latin word deplere meaning to empty completely or to d

  • expletive

    Etymology The word expletive comes from the Latin expletivus meaning filling up I

  • fele

    Etymology Fele is a word with multiple etymological origins depending on its language

  • fill

    Etymology Old English fyllan Proto Germanic fulljan Proto Indo European pleh₂

  • folk

    Meaning of Folk Etymology Folk etymology also known as popular etymology or dubious e

  • full

    Etymology Sanskrit pratipaksha prati against paksha side Meaning Opponen

  • implement

    Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin history and development of words It see

  • manipulation

    Etymology The word manipulation originates from the Latin word manipulus which means

  • nonplus

    Etymology The word nonplus comes from the Latin non not and plus more literal

  • plebe

    Meaning Plebe etymology is the incorrect or folk etymology of a word or phrase which is

  • plebeian

    Etymology Latin plebs common people eius of or belonging to Meaning Ple

  • plebiscite

    Etymology From the Latin plebiscitum meaning a decision made by the plebs Plebs

  • pleiotropy

    Etymology Pleiotropy is derived from Greek pleion πλεῖον means more t

  • Pleistocene

    Etymology The term Pleistocene is derived from two Greek words pleistos most or

  • plenary

    Etymology The word plenary comes from the Latin word plenus which means full or

  • plenitude

    Etymology Late Latin plenitūdō fullness abundance Latin plēnus full Proto

  • plenty

    Etymology and Origin The word plenty derives from the Old French word plenté which

  • plenum

    Etymology Latin plēnus meaning full Meaning A plenum is a space or enclosure t

  • plenipotentiary

    Etymology Latin plēnus full potēns powerful Meaning Having full autho

  • pleo

    Etymology Origin Ancient Greek Meaning Definition Full or numerous Origin and

  • pleonasm

    Etymology From Greek pleonasmos from pleon more redundant asmos a forming format

  • plethora

    Etymology The word plethora comes from the Greek term plethōrē which means fullne

  • Pliocene

    Etymology Greek pleion more kainos new Meaning More recent Origin Th

  • pluperfect

    Etymology From Latin pluperfectus from plus more and perfectus completed finished

  • plural

    Etymology Plural is derived from the Latin word pluralis which means more than one

  • pluri

    Etymology The word pluri is derived from the Latin word plures meaning more or se

  • plus

    Etymology From Old French plus from Latin plus more Latin plus is ultimately d

  • Pollux

    Etymology The name Pollux comes from the Greek word Πολυδεύκης Polydeukes

  • poly

    Etymology The word poly comes from the Greek word polys which means many Meaning

  • polyamorous

    Etymology The word polyamorous is derived from the Greek words poly πολύ meani

  • polyandrous

    Etymology poly Greek many andry Greek husband Meaning Polyandrous refer

  • polyclinic

    Etymology The word polyclinic originates from two Greek roots poly πολύ mea

  • polydipsia

    Etymology Greek poly many excessive dipsia thirst Meaning Exces

  • Polydorus

    Etymology Greek name Πολύδωρος Polydoros meaning having many gifts Mean

  • polyethylene

    Etymology The word polyethylene is derived from the Greek words poly meaning many

  • polyglot

    Etymology Greek poly many glossa language Meaning A person who speaks a

  • polygon

    Etymology The word polygon is derived from the Greek words poly πολύ meaning

  • polygraph

    Etymology The word polygraph is derived from the Greek words polys πολύς

  • polygyny

    Etymology Polygyny is derived from the Greek words poly meaning many gynē me

  • polyhedron

    Etymology Ancient Greek polus many hedron base seat Meaning A polyhedron

  • polyhistor

    Etymology Polyhistor is derived from the Greek words poly meaning many and histo

  • polymath

    Etymology Polymath is derived from the Greek words polys πολύς meaning many

  • polymer

    Etymology The word polymer is derived from the Greek words poly meaning many and

  • polymorphous

    Etymology Polymorphous Derived from Greek poly many and morph form Etymology

  • Polynesia

    Etymology and Meaning Poly Ancient Greek many nesia Ancient Greek island

  • polyp

    Etymology The word polyp is derived from the Greek word polupous which means many

  • Polyphemus

    Etymology Poly Greek many phemos pheme phēnai Greek speak tell Meani

  • polyphony

    Etymology The term polyphony comes from the Greek words poly πολύς meaning

  • polysemy

    Etymology Polysemy comes from the Greek words poly meaning many and sema meanin

  • polysyllabic

    Etymology Poly Greek meaning many Syllable Greek meaning a unit of pronunciation

  • polytheism

    Etymology Derived from the Greek words poly meaning many and theos meaning go

  • replenish

    Etymology Latin replenire to fill up again re prefix meaning back plenus

  • replete

    Etymology The word replete comes from the Latin word repletus which is the past part

  • supply

    Etymology Middle English supplien from Old French suplir supllier from Latin supp

  • surplus

    Etymology The word surplus derives from the Old French word surplus which itself co

  • volkslied

    Etymology The term Volkslied is a German compound word that consists of Volk Ge

  • linguist

    Etymology The word linguist originates from the Latin word lingua which means tong

  • mortal

    Etymology Latin mortalis meaning subject to death Proto Indo European mrtós mea

  • person

    Etymology Latin persona meaning mask or character in a play Meaning An indiv

  • soul

    Etymology The word soul traces its origins to the Proto Indo European root h₂enh₂

  • individual

    Etymology from Latin individuum an individual thing or being from in not

  • somebody

    Etymology Some indefinite pronoun Middle English sum or som from Old English

  • university

    Etymology The word university originates from the Latin word universitas which means

  • alone

    Etymology Old English ānlīen solitary Proto West Germanic ainli solitary Pro

  • stock

    Etymology The word stock has several origins Old English stocc trunk of a tree

  • rock

    Etymology The word rock originates from the Old English word rocc which meant a la