morphew

morphew · noun¹

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromμορφή“form, shape”
2. Medieval Latin · derived frommorphea
3. English todaymorphew

From Medieval Latin morphea, perhaps from Ancient Greek μορφή (morphḗ, “form, shape”). Doublet of morphea.

Morphew · proper noun²

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*bʰéh₂ti“to speak”
2. Proto-Italic · derived from*fāōr
3. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*(s)mel-“to deceive”
4. Proto-Italic · derived from*malos
5. Latin · derived fromfor“speak, say”
6. Latin · derived frommale“badly, wrong”
7. Latin · derived frommalefatus
8. Old French · derived frommalfé
9. English todayMorphew

Norman French name borrowed from Old French malfé, malfeü, which in turn is derived from Latin malefatus, malefatutus, the perfect active participle of malefor (“to speak ill”), from Latin male (“badly, wrong”) + Latin for (“speak, say”). The first part is from Proto-Italic *malos, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)mel- (“to deceive”), cognate with Lithuanian melas (“lie”) and the first element of Ancient Greek βλάσφημος (blásphēmos, “jinx”). The second part is from Proto-Italic *fāōr, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰéh₂ti (“to speak”), cognate with the second element of Ancient Greek βλάσφημος (blásphēmos, “jinx”).

Words from the same roots