The story
- Latin · derived fromLūcifer
- Middle English · inherited fromLucifer
- English todayLucifer
From Middle English Lucifer, from Latin Lūcifer (from lūx (“light”) + ferō (“bear, carry”)). Attested in Old English as Lūċifer. Replaced native calque lēohtberend (“lightbearer”) also from the same Latin source. Application of the name to Satan results from what is probably a misinterpretation of Isaiah 14:12 (whence also the corresponding sense of morning star).
Words from the same roots
LatinLūcifer all →
lucifer matchluciferous
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.