hope
/hoʊp/
noun
Origin
Old English
hopa — expectation; trust
Overview
Meaning Now
- A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.
- A feeling of trust or confidence in a person or thing.
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Old English → English
Earliest form
hopa
Earliest period
Old English period
Journey
The word traces back to Proto-Germanic *hupōn-. Unlike some other Indo-European languages where words for hope often derive from roots meaning 'wish' or 'desire', the Germanic root is strongly linked to the concept of waiting or anticipating with expectation.
Evolution
- Old English (before 1100)
hopa
“expectation, hope”
- Middle English (1100-1500)
hope
“expectation; desire for something to happen”
- Early Modern English (1500-1700)
hope
“expectation; confidence; reliance”
Connections
Word parts
hope
root
expectation or desire
Related across languages
Middle Dutch
hope
Old Saxon
hopo
hope
Explore next
Related to hope
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.