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Where does the word "scandal" come from? It comes from Greek skandalon, passing through Late Latin before entering English (1500s).
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Where does the word "scandal" come from? It comes from Greek skandalon, passing through Late Latin before entering English (1500s).
Scandal’s story begins in Greek: skandalon meant “trap.” A snare or trap; in the New Testament a stumbling block. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as scandalum. Cause of offence in the church. It reached English by 1500s as scandal. Also gave 'slander' through a different French route. Today, scandal means an event causing public outrage.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient skandalon "trap", a snare or trap; in the New Testament a stumbling block.
- Stage 2 · Late Latin · ancient scandalum "cause of offence", cause of offence in the church.
- Stage 3 · English · 1500s scandal "public outrage", also gave 'slander' through a different French route.