relic
/ˈrɛlɪk/
noun
Origin
Latin
reliquiae — remains, survivors, or leftovers
Overview
Meaning Now
- An object, especially a piece of the body or a personal item of a saint, kept as a holy object after their death.
- A trace or object of some past time or culture.
Literal older meaning
that which is left behind
Language path
Latin → Old French → English
Earliest form
relique
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The veneration of relics became a central aspect of medieval Christianity, leading to the development of reliquaries to house bones or clothing of saints, often sparking intense pilgrimage and the trade of holy artifacts.
Evolution
- Latin
reliquiae
“remains of a person or object”
- Old French
relique
“remains of a saint”
- Middle English
relique
“holy object associated with a saint”
- Modern English
relic
“sacred remain or historical artifact”
Connections
Word parts
re-
prefix
back/again
-liqu-
root
to leave
Related across languages
French
relique
relic
Italian
reliquia
relic
Explore next
Related to relic
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.