idyll

Where does the word "idyll" come from? It comes from Greek eidyllion, passing through Latin before entering English (1600s).

Idyll’s story begins in Greek: eidyllion meant “short poem.” 'little picture', the name for the pastoral poems of Theocritus of Syracuse. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as idyllium. A short pastoral poem. It reached English by 1600s as idyll. Tennyson's 'Idylls of the King' (1859) retold the Arthurian legends. Today, idyll means a happy, peaceful period or situation; a pastoral poem.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient eidyllion "short poem", 'little picture', the name for the pastoral poems of Theocritus of Syracuse.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient idyllium "idyll", a short pastoral poem.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s idyll "idyll; blissful time", Tennyson's 'Idylls of the King' (1859) retold the Arthurian legends.