nihilism

nihilism · noun¹

1. Latin · derived fromnihil“indefinite nothing”
2. Late Latin · borrowed fromnihilismus
3. German · borrowed fromNihilismus
4. French · borrowed fromnihilisme
5. English todaynihilism

Probably borrowed from French nihilisme, German Nihilismus, or Late Latin nihilismus; the French, German, and Latin words are derived from Latin nihil (“indefinite nothing”), from nihilum (“nothing”), from ne- (prefix negating the principal meaning) + hīlum (“a trifle; not in the least”). The English word is cognate with Italian nichilismo, Spanish nihilismo, Russian нигили́зм (nigilízm), philosophical doctrine grounded on negation of one or more meaningful aspects of life; emptiness; lack of education and cultural refinement.

Nihilism · proper noun²

1. Russian · borrowed fromнигили́зм
2. English todayNihilism

Borrowed from Russian нигили́зм (nigilízm).

Words from the same roots