Etymograph

English

synagogue

Synagogue comes from Ancient Greek σῠνᾰγωγή ‘assembly, gathering’, from σῠ́ν ‘with, together’, and perhaps ultimately from Proto-Hellenic *ksún ‘beside, with’.

  1. Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*ksún1‘beside, with’uncertain
  2. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσῠ́ν2sŭ́n‘with, together’
  3. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσυνάγω2sunágō‘to gather together’
  4. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσῠνᾰγωγή2sŭnăgōgḗ‘assembly, gathering’
  5. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsynagōga2
  6. Old Frenchc. 842–1400synagoge2
  7. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500synagoge2
  8. Englishearliest quotation 1698synagogue2

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

  1. 1 Wiktionary, Ancient Greek σύν
  2. 2 Wiktionary, English synagogue
  3. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1698, John Milton, A Complete Collection of the Hiſtorical: “But when they come hither, and ſee a Tympany…”.

Lineage

  1. Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*ksúnWiktionary, Ancient Greek σύν‘beside, with’uncertain
  2. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσῠ́νWiktionary, English synagoguesŭ́n‘with, together’
  3. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσυνάγωWiktionary, English synagoguesunágō‘to gather together’
  4. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσῠνᾰγωγήWiktionary, English synagoguesŭnăgōgḗ‘assembly, gathering’
  5. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsynagōgaWiktionary, English synagogue
  6. Old Frenchc. 842–1400synagogeWiktionary, English synagogue
  7. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500synagogeWiktionary, English synagogue
  8. Englishearliest quotation 1698synagogueWiktionary, English synagogue. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1698, John Milton, A Complete Collection of the Hiſtorical: “But when they come hither, and ſee a Tympany…”

Linked words

through Ancient Greek σῠ́ν ‘with, together’

syn, 2 more

Today it means

noun A place of worship for Jews.

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “synagogue”; the older steps come from the Wiktionary entry for Ancient Greek σύν. 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 / Proto-Hellenic *ksún / synagogue

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