catacomb

1. Ancient Greekκατά“under”
2. Late Latincata tumbās
3. Late Latincatacumbae pl
4. Old Englishcatacumbe
5. Middle Englishcatacombe
6. Englishcatacomb

From Middle English catacombe, from Old English catacumbe, catacumbas pl, from Late Latin catacumbae pl, name of the underground cemetery of St. Sebastian in Rome, of unclear origin. Perhaps a dissimilation (influenced by *cumbō (“to lie, recline”)) of Late Latin cata tumbās (literally “among the tombs”) (from Ancient Greek κατά (katá, “under”) and τύμβος (túmbos, “tomb”)). Some sources suggest Ancient Greek κύμβη (kúmbē, “drinking vessel”) as an alternative etymon, but the semantic link is unclear.

More words from Middle English, Old English, Late Latin