Etymology Map
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Theme

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means the subject of a talk or piece of writing

Where does the word "theme" come from? It comes from Greek thema, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
thema
Greek · ancient
"proposition"
Greek, from 'tithenai', to place
2
Stage 2 of 3
teme
Old French · medieval
"theme"
came via Latin 'thema'
3
Stage 3 of 3
theme
English · 1300s
"topic"
'theme park' dates from the 1960s
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Read the full story

Theme’s story begins in Greek: thema meant “proposition.” Greek, from 'tithenai', to place. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as teme. Came via Latin 'thema'. It reached English by 1300s as theme. 'theme park' dates from the 1960s. Today, theme means the subject of a talk or piece of writing.