Romeo
/ˈroʊmioʊ/
noun
Origin
Latin
romaeus — a pilgrim to Rome
Overview
Meaning Now
- A male lover, especially one who is passionate or romantic.
- A term used in some radio communication protocols to represent the letter 'R'.
Literal older meaning
A pilgrim to Rome
Language path
Latin → Italian → English
Earliest form
romeo
Earliest period
Middle Ages
Journey
The name originally designated a person who had traveled on a pilgrimage to Rome. In the 16th century, William Shakespeare popularized the name through his tragedy 'Romeo and Juliet', which transformed the term in Western culture from a religious designation into the definitive archetype of a romantic lover.
Evolution
- Late Latin
romaeus
“pilgrim to Rome”
- Old Italian
romeo
“pilgrim to Rome”
- 16th-century English
Romeo
“Character in Shakespeare's tragedy”
Transition from common noun to proper name icon
Connections
Word parts
Rome
root
City of Rome
-eo
suffix
denoting belonging or related to
Related across languages
Italian
pilgrim
French
romieux
pilgrim (archaic)
Related words
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Related to Romeo
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.