mary

mary · noun, interjection¹

From Mary (“female name”). Compare nan and nancy.

Mary · proper noun²

1. Biblical Hebrewמִרְיָם (miryɔm)
2. Aramaicמרים
3. Koine GreekΜᾰρῐ́ᾱ (Mărĭ́ā)
4. LatinMarīa
5. Old FrenchMarie
6. Middle EnglishMarie
7. English todayMary

From Middle English Marie, from Old French Marie, from Latin Maria, from Ancient Greek Μαρία (María), Μαριάμ (Mariám), from post-Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic מַרְיָם (Maryām), from Biblical Hebrew מִרְיָם (Miryām), of uncertain meaning. (See the Hebrew entry for more.) Doublet of Miriam, Marie, Maria, and Mariah.

Mary · proper noun³

1. Classical Persian · derived fromمَرْو
2. Turkmen · borrowed fromMary
3. English todayMary

Borrowed from Turkmen Mary, from Classical Persian مَرْو (marw). Doublet of Merv, Marw, and Marv.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• 1925 A term of address for a male homosexual.