Etymologiae

Etymologiae, also known as Origines, is an early medieval Latin encyclopedia compiled by Isidore of Seville, a bishop and scholar of the early 7th century. Completed in the early part of the century, it aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of universal knowledge and the origins of words.

The work is organized into twenty books that cover a wide range of topics, from grammar and language to mathematics, geography, natural history, law, and theology. Each entry presents etymologies and concise explanations, linking terms to their roots and describing the things named.

Isidore drew on a broad range of sources, including classical authors such as Pliny and Varro, Christian scholars, and earlier writers. The text blends linguistic analysis with descriptive knowledge and moral and theological commentary. Modern scholarship regards some statements as antiquated or erroneous, but the work remains a crucial source for understanding how medieval learned communities organized knowledge.

Etymologiae became a cornerstone of medieval education, circulating in numerous manuscripts and serving as a core reference in schools and monasteries. It heavily influenced later encyclopedists, notably Vincent of Beauvais, and helped preserve classical knowledge through the medieval period until the Renaissance.

The work existed in Latin manuscript form for centuries; it was first printed in the late 15th century, and translations and adaptations appeared in various vernacular languages in later centuries.