symbol

Where does the word "symbol" come from? It comes from Greek symbolon, passing through Late Latin before entering English (1590s).

Symbol’s story begins in Greek: symbolon meant “token, sign.” 'syn', together, plus 'ballein', to throw: a token broken in two, whose halves were matched to prove identity. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as symbolum. The Christian creed, a 'sign' of faith. It reached English by 1590s as symbol. Broadened to anything standing for something else. Today, symbol means a mark or thing that represents something else.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient symbolon "token, sign", 'syn', together, plus 'ballein', to throw: a token broken in two, whose halves were matched to prove identity.
2. Stage 2 · Late Latin · ancient symbolum "creed", the Christian creed, a 'sign' of faith.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1590s symbol "a sign representing something", broadened to anything standing for something else.