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Synagogue

4 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means a Jewish place of worship

Where does the word "synagogue" come from? It comes from Greek synagōgē, passing through Late Latin and Old French before entering English (1100s).

synagōgē→synagoga→sinagoge→synagogue

Greek · ancient

an assembly; the Greek Bible translated at Alexandria used it for the congregation of Israel

Late Latin · ancient

the building for Jewish worship

Old French · medieval

English · 1100s

"Jewish house of worship"

English Jews were expelled in 1290 and readmitted in 1656; London's Bevis Marks synagogue opened in 1701

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Synagogue’s story begins in Greek: synagōgē meant “assembly.” An assembly; the Greek Bible translated at Alexandria used it for the congregation of Israel. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as synagoga. The building for Jewish worship. From there it passed into Old French as sinagoge by medieval. Synagogue. It reached English by 1100s as synagogue. English Jews were expelled in 1290 and readmitted in 1656; London's Bevis Marks synagogue opened in 1701. Today, synagogue means a Jewish place of worship.