mausoleum

Where does the word "mausoleum" come from? It comes from Greek Mausoleion, passing through Latin before entering English (1400s).

Mausoleum’s story begins in Greek: Mausoleion meant “a ruler's name.” A Persian satrap whose legendary tomb was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as mausoleum. The tomb of Mausolus of Caria at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. It reached English by 1400s as mausoleum. Broadened from the specific tomb to any grand, stately burial structure. Today, mausoleum means a large, stately building housing a tomb or tombs.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient Mausoleion "a ruler's name", a Persian satrap whose legendary tomb was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient mausoleum "a grand tomb", the tomb of Mausolus of Caria at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s mausoleum "a grand, stately tomb", broadened from the specific tomb to any grand, stately burial structure.