mosaic

mosaic · noun, adjective, verb¹

1. Ancient GreekΜοῦσᾰ (Moûsă)
2. Ancient GreekΜουσεῖον (Mouseîon)
3. Ancient Greekμουσεῖον (mouseîon)
4. Late Latinmūsīvum
5. Medieval Latinmusaicum
6. Italianmosaico
7. Middle Frenchmosaïque
8. English todaymosaic

From Middle French mosaïque, from Italian mosaico, from Medieval Latin musaicum, from Late Latin musivum (opus), from Latin museum, musaeum, probably from Ancient Greek Μουσεῖον (Mouseîon), shrine of the Muses (Μοῦσα (Moûsa)). Doublet of museum.

Mosaic · adjective²

1. Biblical Hebrew · derived fromמֹשֶׁה
2. Latin · derived fromMoses
3. Latin · derived fromMosaicus
4. Middle French · derived frommosaïque
5. English todayMosaic

From Middle French mosaïque, moysaique, and its source, post-classical Latin Mosaicus (5th century), from Latin Moses, ultimately from Biblical Hebrew מֹשֶׁה (mōšê).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 17th c. Pertaining to Moses, or the writings and traditions attributed to him.