sin
/sɪn/
noun
Origin
Proto-Germanic
*sunjō — truth, being (the one who is responsible)
Overview
Meaning Now
- An immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law.
- Any grave offense or serious shortcoming.
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Old English → Modern English
Earliest form
synn
Earliest period
Old English
Journey
The evolution of 'sin' from a Proto-Germanic word meaning 'truth' or 'to be' is conceptually complex. It suggests that in early Germanic thought, a 'sin' was something that was objectively 'true' or 'real' in the context of being an act of misdeed or transgression.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*sunjō
“truth, justice”
Original sense linked to the idea of a 'true' offense.
- Old English
synn
“sin, moral offense”
- Middle English
synne
“sin”
Spelling varied significantly in this period.
- Modern English
sin
“sin”
Connections
Word parts
sin
root
moral transgression
Related across languages
Old Saxon
sundea
sin
Old High German
sunta
sin
Old Norse
synd
sin
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Related to sin
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.