axiom

Where does the word "axiom" come from? It comes from Greek axioma, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Axiom’s story begins in Greek: axioma meant “a thing thought worthy or true.” Literally a thing thought worthy, from axios (worthy). It reached English by 1400s as axiom. Settled as the word for a statement accepted as self-evidently true. Today, axiom means a statement regarded as self-evidently true, taken as a starting point.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient axioma "a thing thought worthy or true", literally a thing thought worthy, from axios (worthy).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s axiom "a statement accepted as self-evidently true", settled as the word for a statement accepted as self-evidently true.