philosophy

Where does the word "philosophy" come from? It comes from Greek philosophia, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (medieval).

Philosophy’s story begins in Greek: philosophia meant “love of wisdom.” Literally "love of wisdom". By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as philosophia. Pythagoras is said to have called himself a 'philosophos', lover of wisdom. From there it passed into Old French as filosofie by medieval. Carried the discipline's name into French. It reached English by medieval as philosophy. Settled as the English word for the discipline. Today, philosophy means the study of fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, and ethics.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient philosophia "love of wisdom", literally "love of wisdom".
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient philosophia "the study of wisdom and knowledge", Pythagoras is said to have called himself a 'philosophos', lover of wisdom.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval filosofie "philosophy", carried the discipline's name into French.
4. Stage 4 · English · medieval philosophy "the study of fundamental questions about existence", settled as the English word for the discipline.