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gnomus

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word gnomus

Confidence
Uncertain
Formation
Coinage
First attested
16th century, Paracelsus
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin gnomus
French gnome
English gnome

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈnɔ.mʊs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈɲɔː.mus][1]

Forms

gnomus m (genitive gnomī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It was coined in the 16th century by Paracelsus.[1][2] The source is uncertain: perhaps a compound of Ancient Greek γῆ (gê, “earth”) and νομός (nomós, “dwelling”), “earth-dweller”;[1][2] less likely γνώμη (gnṓmē, “judgment, intelligence”).[1][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Paracelsus gave the name pigmaei or gnomi to the elemental beings of the earth.[2][1]

Semantic evolution

Later writers used it for the little men believed to live in mines, whom Germans called Schrötlein or Bergmännlein, and noted that Paracelsus seems to call them gnomi.[3] French took it as gnome in the 16th century, and English in 1712.[2]

Timeline

  • 16th century – Paracelsus names the earth spirits gnomi.[2][1]
  • 1712 – English borrows gnome from French.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (New Latin) A gnome, an elemental spirit of the earth, likened to the pygmies of the Greeks.[1][2][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de

Borrowed into

Descendants

Cite this entry

“Gnomus.” Etymologically, 23 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/gnomus. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

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