English Explanatory Dictionary

Catherine

English dictionary entry

Meanings

name
  1. A female given name from Ancient Greek.

Pronunciation

/ˈkæθ(ə)ɹɪn/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-Catherine.wav

Word forms

Catherine Catharine Katharine Katherine Kathryn Catheryn Cathryn Katheryn

Etymology

Borrowed from French Catherine, from Ancient Greek Αἰκατερίνη (Aikaterínē), *Ἑκατερίνη (*Hekaterínē), of debated meaning, possibly from ἑκάτερος (hekáteros, “each of the two”), or from the name of the goddess Hecate. The apheresis of the first syllable as well as the spelling with ⟨th⟩ in Latin languages, German and English, is due to a folk etymology, dating from Roman times, which associated the name with the Ancient Greek καθαρός (katharós, “pure”). The name belonged to a 4th-century saint and martyr from Alexandria who was tortured on the wheel from where the term Catherine wheel originates.

Related words

Caitlin Catarina Cathryn Catrina Catriona Kaitlyn Karen Kari Karin Katelyn Katerina Katerine Kateryna Kathleen Katrina Katrine Katya Trina Cat Cate Cath Cathi Cathie Cathy Catie Kat Kate Katey Kath Kathi Kathie Kathy Katie Katy Kay Kaye Kit Kitti Kittie Kitty

Derived words

Catherine Field Catherine Hill Bay Mount Catherine
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