mel
/mɛl/
noun
Origin
Latin
mel — honey
Overview
Meaning Now
- honey, particularly in medical or botanical contexts.
Literal older meaning
honey
Language path
Latin → English
Earliest form
mel
Earliest period
Classical antiquity
Journey
The Latin word 'mel' has survived into modern English primarily through its use in medical terminology, such as 'mel depuratum' (purified honey), which was once a standard excipient in pharmacopoeias for cough syrups and electuaries.
Evolution
- Proto-Indo-European
*mélit
“honey”
- Latin
mel
“honey”
- English (Loan)
mel
“honey (archaic or technical)”
Used primarily in pharmaceutical preparations
Connections
Word parts
mel
root
honey
Related across languages
Greek
μέλι (méli)
honey
Old Irish
mil
honey
Old Church Slavonic
medъ
honey
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Related to mel
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.