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Syllabus

2 stages from Late Latin to English.

Today it means an outline of a course of study

Where does the word "syllabus" come from? It comes from Late Latin syllabus, adopted directly into English (1650s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
syllabus
Late Latin · ancient
"list"
a misprint of Greek 'sittyba', a label, in an edition of Cicero
2
Stage 2 of 2
syllabus
English · 1650s
"list of topics"
one of the few words born from a printing error
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Read the full story

Syllabus’s story begins in Late Latin: syllabus meant “list.” A misprint of Greek 'sittyba', a label, in an edition of Cicero. It reached English by 1650s as syllabus. One of the few words born from a printing error. Today, syllabus means an outline of a course of study.