Advertisement
Entries linking to transliterate
trans-
word-forming element meaning "across, beyond, through, on the other side of, to go beyond," from Latin trans (prep.) "across, over, beyond," perhaps originally present participle of a verb *trare-, meaning "to cross," from PIE *tra-, variant of root *tere- (2) "cross over, pass through, overcome." In chemical use indicating "a compound in which two characteristic groups are situated on opposite sides of an axis of a molecule" [Flood].
letter (n.1)c. 1200, "graphic symbol, alphabetic sign, written character conveying information about sound in speech," from Old French letre "character, letter; missive, note," in plural, "literature, writing, learning" (10c., Modern French lettre), from Latin littera (also litera) "letter of the alphabet," also "an epistle, writing, document; literature, great books; science, learning;" a word of uncertain origin.
According to Watkins, perhaps via Etruscan from Greek diphthera "tablet" (with change of d- to l- as in lachrymose), from a hypothetical root *deph- "to stamp." In this sense it replaced Old English bocstæf, literally "book staff" (compare German Buchstabe "letter, character," from Old High German buohstab, from Proto-Germanic *bok-staba-m).
Latin littera also meant "a writing, document, record," and in plural litteræ "a letter, epistle, missive communication in writing," a sense passed through French and attested in English letter since early 13c. (replacing Old English ærendgewrit "written message," literally "errand-writing"). The Latin plural also meant "literature, books," and figuratively "learning, liberal education, schooling" (see letters).
The custom of giving the school letter as an achievement award in sports, attested by 1908, is said to have originated with University of Chicago football coach Amos Alonzo Stagg. Earlier in reference to colleges it meant "university degree or honor that adds initials to a name" (1888). Expression to the letter "precisely" is from 1520s (earlier after the letter, mid-14c.). Letter-quality (adj.) "suitable for (business) letters" is from 1977. For letters patent (with French word order) see patent (n.).
According to Watkins, perhaps via Etruscan from Greek diphthera "tablet" (with change of d- to l- as in lachrymose), from a hypothetical root *deph- "to stamp." In this sense it replaced Old English bocstæf, literally "book staff" (compare German Buchstabe "letter, character," from Old High German buohstab, from Proto-Germanic *bok-staba-m).
Latin littera also meant "a writing, document, record," and in plural litteræ "a letter, epistle, missive communication in writing," a sense passed through French and attested in English letter since early 13c. (replacing Old English ærendgewrit "written message," literally "errand-writing"). The Latin plural also meant "literature, books," and figuratively "learning, liberal education, schooling" (see letters).
The custom of giving the school letter as an achievement award in sports, attested by 1908, is said to have originated with University of Chicago football coach Amos Alonzo Stagg. Earlier in reference to colleges it meant "university degree or honor that adds initials to a name" (1888). Expression to the letter "precisely" is from 1520s (earlier after the letter, mid-14c.). Letter-quality (adj.) "suitable for (business) letters" is from 1977. For letters patent (with French word order) see patent (n.).
Share transliterate
‘cite’
Page URL:
https://www.etymonline.com/word/transliterate
HTML Link:
<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/transliterate">Etymology of transliterate by etymonline</a>
APA style:
Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of transliterate. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved $(datetime), from https://www.etymonline.com/word/transliterate
Chicago style:
Harper Douglas, “Etymology of transliterate,” Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed $(datetime), https://www.etymonline.com/word/transliterate.
MLA style:
Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of transliterate.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/transliterate. Accessed $(datetimeMla).
IEEE style:
D. Harper. “Etymology of transliterate.” Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/transliterate (accessed $(datetime)).
updated on December 08, 2016
Advertisement
Advertisement
Definitions of transliterate from WordNet
transliterate (v.)
rewrite in a different script;
The Sanskrit text had to be transliterated
Synonyms: transcribe
From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.
Dictionary entries near transliterate
transitory
translate
translater
translation
translator
transliterate
transliteration
translocation
translucence
translucent
transmigration
