victim
/ˈvɪktɪm/
noun
Origin
Latin
victima — beast for sacrifice
Overview
Meaning Now
- A person harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime, accident, or other event or action.
- A person who is tricked or duped.
- A living creature killed and offered as a religious sacrifice.
Literal older meaning
a creature bound or caught for sacrifice
Language path
Latin → Middle French → English
Earliest form
victime
Earliest period
15th century
Journey
The word originally referred specifically to an animal or person ritually slaughtered as an offering to a deity. Over time, the religious connotation faded, and by the 17th century, it was used to describe anyone who suffers harm or injustice, regardless of religious context.
Evolution
- Latin
victima
“sacrificial animal”
- Middle French
victime
“sacrificial victim”
- Early Modern English
victim
“sacrificial offering”
- 17th century
victim
“sufferer of misfortune”
Expansion of sense from sacrifice to general casualty
Connections
Related across languages
French
victime
victim
Italian
vittima
victim
Spanish
víctima
victim
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.