Lucifer
/ˈluːsɪfər/
noun
Origin
Latin
lūx, lūcis + ferre — light + to bear/carry
Overview
Meaning Now
- A Latin name meaning 'light-bringer', originally referring to the morning star, Venus.
- In later Christian theology, a name associated with the fallen angel who became Satan.
Literal older meaning
light-bringer; light-bearer
Language path
Latin → English
Earliest form
Lūcifer
Earliest period
1st century BCE / 1st century CE
Journey
The association of 'Lucifer' with Satan stems from a Christian interpretation of Isaiah 14:12, where the King of Babylon is described as 'Day Star, son of Dawn'. Church Fathers such as Origen and Tertullian later interpreted this passage as an allegory for the fall of the Devil from heaven.
Evolution
- Classical Latin
lūcifer
“morning star”
An epithet for the planet Venus as the harbinger of dawn.
- Late Latin
Lucifer
“morning star / identified with fallen angel”
Used in the Vulgate (Isaiah 14:12) to translate the Hebrew 'hêlēl' (shining one).
- Old English
Lucifer
“Satan”
Adopted into religious discourse.
Connections
Word parts
lūci-
root
light
-fer
suffix
bearing/carrying
Related across languages
Ancient Greek
phōsphoros
light-bringer
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Related to Lucifer
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.