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Where does the word "sisyphean" come from? It comes from Greek Sisyphos, and was adopted directly into English (1630s).
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Where does the word "sisyphean" come from? It comes from Greek Sisyphos, and was adopted directly into English (1630s).
Sisyphean’s story begins in Greek: Sisyphos meant “the mythical king Sisyphus.” A mythical king condemned to eternally push a boulder up a hill, only for it to roll back down. It reached English by 1630s as sisyphean. Coined from the myth for a task that is endless and futile. Today, sisyphean means describing a task that is endless, laborious, and ultimately futile.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient Sisyphos "the mythical king Sisyphus", a mythical king condemned to eternally push a boulder up a hill, only for it to roll back down.
- Stage 2 · English · 1630s sisyphean "endlessly laborious and ultimately futile", coined from the myth for a task that is endless and futile.