omniscient

Where does the word "omniscient" come from? It comes from Latin omnis, passing through Medieval Latin before entering English (1600s).

Omniscient’s story begins in Latin: omnis meant “all, every.” All, every, combined with sciens (knowing, from scire, to know). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Medieval Latin as omnisciens. All-knowing, formed from omnis (all) and sciens (knowing). It reached English by 1600s as omniscient. Settled as the English word for having infinite knowledge. Today, omniscient means knowing everything, having infinite awareness and understanding.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient omnis "all, every", all, every, combined with sciens (knowing, from scire, to know).
2. Stage 2 · Medieval Latin · medieval omnisciens "all-knowing", all-knowing, formed from omnis (all) and sciens (knowing).
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s omniscient "having infinite or complete knowledge", settled as the English word for having infinite knowledge.