labyrinth
/ˈlæb.ə.rɪnθ/
noun
Origin
Ancient Greek
λαβύρινθος — a maze or intricate building
Overview
Meaning Now
- A complicated irregular network of passages or paths in which it is difficult to find one's way; a maze.
- An intricate and confusing arrangement of ideas, arguments, or situations.
- The internal ear or its bony or membranous components.
Literal older meaning
An intricate structure or building, originally associated with the myth of the Minotaur.
Language path
Ancient Greek → Latin → English
Earliest form
labyrinthus
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The term is famously associated with the Labyrinth of Knossos on Crete, which, according to Greek mythology, was built by Daedalus to house the Minotaur. Linguists have suggested a possible connection to the Carian word 'labrys' (double-headed axe), implying the 'house of the double axe'.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
λαβύρινθος (labýrinthos)
“a complex structure”
Possibly related to labrys (double-headed axe).
- Latin
labyrinthus
“maze”
Borrowed directly into Latin.
- Middle English
labyrinth
“a complicated structure”
Adopted through Latin influence on French and scholarly English.
Connections
Related across languages
French
labyrinthe
labyrinth
Italian
labirinto
labyrinth
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.