Etymology Map
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Parallel

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means side by side and equal distance apart

Where does the word "parallel" come from? It comes from Greek parallēlos, passing through French before entering English (1540s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
parallēlos
Greek · ancient
"beside one another"
Greek, 'para', beside, plus 'allēlōn', each other
2
Stage 2 of 3
parallèle
French · 1500s
"parallel"
came via Latin 'parallelus'
3
Stage 3 of 3
parallel
English · 1540s
"parallel"
'parallel universe' dates from the 1900s
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Read the full story

Parallel’s story begins in Greek: parallēlos meant “beside one another.” Greek, 'para', beside, plus 'allēlōn', each other. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as parallèle. Came via Latin 'parallelus'. It reached English by 1540s as parallel. 'parallel universe' dates from the 1900s. Today, parallel means side by side and equal distance apart.