bibliography

Where does the word "bibliography" come from? It comes from Greek biblion, passing through French before entering English (1810s).

Bibliography’s story begins in Greek: biblion meant “book.” Book, combined with graphein (to write). By 1700s, the word had taken hold in French as bibliographie. Formed from Greek biblion (book) and graphein (to write) for a list of works. It reached English by 1810s as bibliography. First meant the copying of books; the sense 'list of sources' developed in French scholarship. Today, bibliography means a list of the books or sources used or referred to in a piece of work.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient biblion "book", book, combined with graphein (to write).
2. Stage 2 · French · 1700s bibliographie "a written list of books", formed from Greek biblion (book) and graphein (to write) for a list of works.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1810s bibliography "a list of sources referenced in a work", first meant the copying of books; the sense 'list of sources' developed in French scholarship.