Achilles
/əˈkɪliːz/
noun
Origin
Ancient Greek
Ἀχιλλεύς — Heroic name of disputed etymology
Overview
Meaning Now
- A legendary Greek hero of the Trojan War, known for his prowess in battle and his one vulnerable spot.
- The tendon connecting the heel to the calf muscle (Achilles tendon).
Literal older meaning
Possibly 'he who has pain for the people', from Greek 'akhos' (grief/pain) + 'laos' (people).
Language path
Ancient Greek → Latin → English
Earliest form
Ἀχιλλεύς
Earliest period
8th century BCE
Journey
Achilles was the central character of Homer's Iliad. The association with the heel originated later; Roman author Hyginus wrote that Achilles' mother, Thetis, attempted to make him immortal by dipping him in the River Styx, holding him by his heel, leaving that spot unprotected.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek (8th century BCE)
Ἀχιλλεύς
“The hero Achilles”
Attested in Homeric epics.
- Latin (Classical era)
Achilles
“The Greek hero”
Adopted directly from Greek into Roman literature.
- Middle English (14th century)
Achilles
“The figure from classical mythology”
Used in literary contexts referring to the Trojan War.
- Modern English (17th century)
Achilles tendon
“The tendon connecting the calf to the heel”
Refers to the myth where Achilles was vulnerable only at his heel.
Connections
Word parts
Achilles
root
Proper name
Related across languages
French
Achille
Achilles
German
Achill
Achilles
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Related to Achilles
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.