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Where does the word "leviathan" come from? It comes from Hebrew livyatan, passing through Late Latin before entering English (medieval).
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Where does the word "leviathan" come from? It comes from Hebrew livyatan, passing through Late Latin before entering English (medieval).
Leviathan’s story begins in Hebrew: livyatan meant “a great sea monster.” A huge sea monster described in biblical texts. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as leviathan. The sea monster of Job and Psalms. It reached English by medieval as leviathan. Thomas Hobbes's 'Leviathan' (1651) used it for the all-powerful state. Today, leviathan means something of enormous size or power, especially a sea creature or institution.
- Stage 1 · Hebrew · ancient livyatan "a great sea monster", a huge sea monster described in biblical texts.
- Stage 2 · Late Latin · ancient leviathan "a great sea monster", the sea monster of Job and Psalms.
- Stage 3 · English · medieval leviathan "an enormous and powerful thing or creature", Thomas Hobbes's 'Leviathan' (1651) used it for the all-powerful state.