Etymology Map
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Meander

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means to follow a winding course

Where does the word "meander" come from? It comes from Greek Maiandros, passing through Latin before entering English (1570s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
Maiandros
Greek · ancient
"the Maeander river"
a famously winding river in Caria, western Anatolia, now the Büyük Menderes in Turkey
2
Stage 2 of 3
maeander
Latin · ancient
"winding"
used for any winding course or pattern, such as the Greek key design
3
Stage 3 of 3
meander
English · 1570s
"to wind, wander"
the verb, to wander aimlessly, dates from the 1830s
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Read the full story

Meander’s story begins in Greek: Maiandros meant “the Maeander river.” A famously winding river in Caria, western Anatolia, now the Büyük Menderes in Turkey. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as maeander. Used for any winding course or pattern, such as the Greek key design. It reached English by 1570s as meander. The verb, to wander aimlessly, dates from the 1830s. Today, meander means to follow a winding course.