English
episode
Episode comes from French épisode, from Ancient Greek ἐπεισόδιον ‘a parenthetic addition’, from ἐπί ‘on’ + εἰς ‘into’ + ὁδός ‘way’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἐπεισόδιος1epeisódios‘following upon the entrance’
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἐπεισόδιον1epeisódion‘a parenthetic addition’neuter of ἐπεισόδιος
- New Latinc. 1500–1900*epīsodium1reconstructed
- Frenchc. 1600–presentépisode1
- Englishearliest quotation 1935episode1
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
- 1 Wiktionary, English episode
- Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1935, Francis Beeding pseudonym; John Palmer, 10/6: “The Attorney-General, however, had used this episode, which Martin…”.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἐπεισόδιοςWiktionary, English episodeepeisódios‘following upon the entrance’
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἐπεισόδιονWiktionary, English episodeepeisódion‘a parenthetic addition’neuter of ἐπεισόδιος
- New Latinc. 1500–1900*epīsodiumWiktionary, English episodereconstructed
- Frenchc. 1600–presentépisodeWiktionary, English episode
- Englishearliest quotation 1935episodeWiktionary, English episode. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1935, Francis Beeding pseudonym; John Palmer, 10/6: “The Attorney-General, however, had used this episode, which Martin…”
A compound of ἐπί ‘on’ + εἰς ‘into’ + ὁδός ‘way’
Proto-Indo-European *h₁ep- ‘to grab, snatch, get’
Proto-Indo-European *h₁épi ‘on’
Proto-Hellenic *epí
Ancient Greek ἐπί ‘on’
Proto-Indo-European *h₁én ‘in’
Proto-Hellenic *en-s
Ancient Greek εἰς ‘into’
Proto-Indo-European *sed- ‘to sit’
Proto-Indo-European *sodós ‘course’
Proto-Hellenic *hodós
Ancient Greek ὁδός ‘way’
Every English word from Ancient Greek ἐπεισόδιος
Today it means
noun A discrete but connected event, situation, or period within a broader sequence, narrative, or life course.
Sources
Sources: Wiktionary, “episode”. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek ἐπεισόδιος / episode