nectar (French)
Where does "nectar" come from?
The word nectar traces back to Ancient Greek, where it served as the mythical drink of the gods. It is traditionally believed to derive from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning 'overcoming death,' reflecting the belief that the substance granted immortality. The term eventually entered Latin before making its way into modern languages.
Full etymology tree
- nectar (French), 'nectar (all meanings)'
- inherited nectar (Latin), 'nectar'
- borrowed νέκταρ (néktar) (Ancient Greek), 'nectar, the specific nourishment (drink) of the gods'
- compound *neḱ- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to perish, disappear'
- compound *terh₂- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to cross over, pass through, overcome'
- borrowed νέκταρ (néktar) (Ancient Greek), 'nectar, the specific nourishment (drink) of the gods'
- inherited nectar (Latin), 'nectar'
Ancestors
- *neḱ- (Proto-Indo-European)
- nectar (Latin)
- νέκταρ (Ancient Greek)
Descendants and derived words
- nectaire (French)
Updated June 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris