neume

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromνεῦμα“sign”
2. Medieval Latin · derived fromneuma
3. Middle French · derived fromneume
4. Middle English · inherited fromnewme
5. English todayneume

From 15th c. Middle English newme, nevme, neme; from Middle French neume, in turn from Medieval Latin neuma or pneuma, either from Ancient Greek νεῦμα (neûma, “sign”), or else a corruption of πνεῦμα (pneûma, “breath”). In the latter case a doublet of pneuma.