Etymo

gospel

The Christian message, or something accepted as unquestionable truth.

Played on · Day 24 · word 1 of 5

Good news in English words

How gospel reached English

oldest first
  • gōd‘good’
  • spell‘tale’

combined

  1. Old English

    gōdspel

    ‘glad tidings announced by Jesus; one of the four gospels’

  2. Middle English

    gospel

  3. English

    gospel

The story of gospel

Gospel translated an idea into English: good news.

Old English gōdspel joins good and tale. It translated a religious term into English components, giving the idea of good news. Its shorter modern spelling makes the two pieces harder to spot.

Middle English is omitted as a separate stage.

Sources

Also built on Old English gōd

  • gospel, this word
  • good

A language can borrow an idea by translating its pieces instead of taking over its sounds.

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