eulogy

Where does the word "eulogy" come from? It comes from Greek eulogia, passing through Medieval Latin before entering English (1590s).

Eulogy’s story begins in Greek: eulogia meant “praise.” Praise, 'good words', from 'eu', well, and 'logos', speech. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Medieval Latin as eulogium. Confused with Latin 'elogium', an inscription on a tomb. It reached English by 1590s as eulogy. The funeral sense grew from its association with tomb inscriptions. Today, eulogy means a speech or piece of writing praising someone, especially one who has died.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient eulogia "praise", praise, 'good words', from 'eu', well, and 'logos', speech.
2. Stage 2 · Medieval Latin · medieval eulogium "praise, epitaph", confused with Latin 'elogium', an inscription on a tomb.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1590s eulogy "funeral praise", the funeral sense grew from its association with tomb inscriptions.