Godly etymology

You're naming the Gods and didn't know it! Read all about these names!

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From the food on your breakfast table to the shoes on your feet, traces of ancient mythology are hidden in plain sight. But we bet you didn’t know that! And we get it—after all, only a few people think about the origins of words daily. But don’t worry—that’s why we’re here. These mythological figures, who once inspired awe and devotion, now lend their names to the phenomena, products, and concepts we mention every day. Let’s dive into the fascinating world of mythologically inspired names and uncover 10 surprising origins.

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The word hypnosis takes its name from Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep. Hypnos, often depicted as a gentle, winged figure, had the power to lull both mortals and gods into a deep slumber.

Today, hypnosis refers to a trance-like state that feels like a dream but leaves you fully awake. This practice is often used for relaxation, therapy, and even entertainment.

The connection is fitting, to be honest—both Hypnos and hypnosis evoke a sense of calm and surrender. While Hypnos ruled over dreams, modern hypnosis helps people tap into their subconscious minds. It’s pretty amazing how the ancient god of closed eyes still influences our understanding of the mind today.

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Nemesis, the Greek goddess of retribution and balance, has left her mark on the English language as a term for an unbeatable rival or a source of downfall.

In mythology, Nemesis punished hubris, which was considered a serious offense, and ensured that no one escaped the consequences of their actions.

The modern concept of a nemesis describes something or someone we cannot conquer and reflects this sense of unavoidable justice. It is frequently used to refer to a person we can’t defeat, but it can also apply to goals we struggle to achieve. Is that meant to make us feel bad? Not exactly—a nemesis is there to keep us humble!

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Greek mythology features many creatures, including the Oreads, the mountain nymphs. Echo was an Oread who lived on Mount Cithaeron. This nymph was, of course, part of Zeus’s love life—and when Hera, his wife, found out, she cursed Echo to only repeat the words others said.

Fun twist: the next person Echo met—and fell in love with—was Narcissus. And we all know how that went!

In any case, the phenomenon of repeating sounds now carries her name. An echo is a repetition of sound caused by the reflection of sound waves from a wall, a mountain, or any surface that obstructs the path of the sound. Interesting, huh?

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Did you know that the breakfast you—or your kids—have every single day can be traced back to ancient mythology? Your morning bowl of cereal is named after Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture and grain.

As a deity who ensured a good harvest, Ceres was cherished by farmers and worshipped in lavish festivals. The name is perfect for the grains that are a breakfast staple worldwide. From cornflakes to oatmeal, cereal embodies the abundance that Ceres symbolized.

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Greek mythology was no fun business—love triangles, family disputes, and wars were pretty common. And when it comes to wars among the gods, the War of the Titans is one of the most remarkable. Why? Because the Titans went up against the gods for ten years.

The term atlas for a book of maps traces back to one of those Titans: Atlas, who was condemned to hold up the heavens after losing this divine rebellion. His incredible strength and eternal burden made him a symbol of endurance and support. In the 16th century, map collections were named after him because they reflected the idea of "carrying the world." Even if it’s a burden for him, it’s an accurate connotation!

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Hypnos was the god of sleep, but once you were within his realm, Morpheus took over as the god of dreams. Father and son ruled together when it came to closed eyes.

Morphine, a powerful pain-relieving drug, draws its name from Morpheus, who was known for shaping and controlling dreams and often appeared in human form to deliver messages.

The drug’s name reflects its ability to induce a dream-like state and ease suffering. While it’s a medical wonder in many situations, its connection to dreams reminds us of its potent effects. Like Morpheus entering dreams, morphine brings relief—but it commands respect for its power.

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Every Roman god has a Greek counterpart, but in the case of volcanoes, the name comes from the Romans themselves. The term "volcano" comes from Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and smithing, who crafted weapons for gods and heroes in his fiery forge.

Vulcan worked with molten lava, just as volcanoes erupt with fiery power from the earth’s core. Ancient Romans believed volcanic eruptions were Vulcan’s way of showing his might. Even though we now understand the science behind them, the mythology still adds a sense of drama to these geological events. Don’t you just love it?

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As we said, mythology was no lighthearted affair—and there was even an entity dedicated to disorder: enter Chaos.

In Greek mythology, Chaos was the primordial void from which everything began—a vast, formless expanse that existed before order emerged.

Today, still bearing the same name, chaos refers to mess, disorder, and unpredictability, just like the state of the universe before creation. It’s fascinating how a term for beginnings now represents turmoil and confusion, but maybe that’s the essence of the universe itself: from the cosmos to a messy kitchen, chaos has a timeless presence

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That’s right—the gods are also a source of inspiration for some of the biggest brands in the world. Take Nike, for example.

Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, has become a household name thanks to the global sportswear brand. A symbol of triumph and achievement in every arena, she inspired warriors in battle and athletes in competition. Remember the divine war we mentioned? Nike was the first to show her support for Zeus.

As for the company’s iconic Swoosh, the logo reflects her winged speed and grace. Every pair of Nike sneakers carries the spirit of determination and success. Who knew a goddess could have such impressive branding skills?

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To finish things off, let’s talk about one of the most celebrated figures in Greek mythology and her connection to one of the most respected professions in the modern world.

The word "psychology" finds its roots in Psyche, the Greek goddess of the soul. In mythology, she was depicted as a beautiful woman with wings resembling those of a butterfly.

Since her name means "soul," Psyche inspired the field of psychology, which is all about studying the human essence, mind, and behavior. With the addition of a suffix that denotes a field of study, the word psychology connects ancient interest in understanding what makes us human to the modern scientific discipline. It’s ironic, but also beautiful, that the field studying the mind and soul is named after a goddess.

Rich language

Better have your "nest egg"! You'll love these 10 money idioms

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For a lot of people, money is still a taboo topic, but the truth is that it comes up in everyday conversations all the time. For this reason, there's no shortage of money-related sayings, phrases, and idioms. You probably have heard someone talking about their "nest egg," or maybe there was a time when you had to "tighten your belt." If you want to learn the origins and meanings of these 10 fun expressions about money, read on!

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"I got my paycheck today, and it's already burning a hole in my pocket."

We could divide most people into two groups: On one side, those who know how to save, look for discounts, keep track of their finances correctly, and carefully plan every expense. On the other, the "wild ones," those who don't know what they've spent their money on or have a tendency to spend impulsively.

If you feel that money just disappears fast as soon as you get it, you may belong to the second group. In that case, there's a phrase that fits well in that context. When someone says that money "burns a hole in their pocket," they simply mean they can't wait to spend it. And let's be honest; there's nothing like bringing home that shirt you fell in love with at the store, right?

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"She will leave the company with a generous golden handshake at the end of the year."

For some people, talking about money without beating around the bush can be quite shocking, especially when large sums are involved. That's why language provides us with many metaphors and aphorisms, and one of them is the famous "golden handshake."

If you have been lucky enough to be part of one, you know what we're talking about. This expression emerged in the mid-20th century and became increasingly famous with the advancement of big business. In the corporate world, a "golden handshake" describes an agreement (the "handshake" part) between members of a company, through which one receives a large amount of money (the "golden" involved). It's often used to refer to big severance pay or retirement compensation.

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"After we bought the house, we had to tighten our belts for a period."

While it's true that many of us long for a slim waistline, when it comes to money, "tightening the belt" is not necessarily a good thing. In fact, this expression is used for talking about tough financial times, those moments when you need to cut back on expenses and make some adjustments, even if it means your pants end up a little looser.

It's believed that the idiom became popular in the US during the harsh 1930s due to the difficulties of the Great Depression.

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"They cut corners by hiring less staff to save money, which resulted in longer wait times."

While shortcuts can be helpful at times, wise people say that taking the longer path teaches us important lessons and leads to better outcomes.

The expression "cutting corners" emerged in the 19th century to express precisely that: Creating a straight path through corners to make the route shorter and faster. Over time, the phrase has expanded its use to more metaphorical forms and usually contains a negative undertone. You know, taking shortcuts can sometimes end up taking more time and effort.

In the world of finance, it's common to hear that a company decided to cut corners by making less effort or using cheaper materials with the intention of making quick money.

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"Thankfully, he had a nest egg to cover his expenses while he searched for a new job."

Did you know that there was a practice in which a fertilized egg was placed in a hen's nest to encourage it to lay more eggs? But what does this have to do with money?

The expression "nest egg" comes from that practice and refers to a small or moderate amount of money saved for future use. As old as the technique itself, the expression was already in use in the 17th century.

Unlike other phrases on this list that belong to the world of big corporations, this one is often related to personal or household finances. Have you got your nest egg set aside? We bet you do!

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"He didn't talk about his high salary so they wouldn't think he's on the gravy train."

Some people say that only hard-earned money is worthwhile. But here's an expression that indicates precisely the opposite.

When you obtain money easily, without much effort, it's said that you're on the "gravy train." This phrase originated in the United States in the early 20th century, specifically between the 1910s and 1920s, as popular slang among railroad workers. In this context, it was used to describe a run on which there was good pay and little work.

Over time, the idiom spread to other jobs and activities, and today, it's commonly heard in everyday conversation.

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"The tab is a little high. What do you think about going Dutch?"

Nothing like a good plan with friends! Whether it's a trip, a shopping spree, or dinner in a nice restaurant. And when the bill comes, many prefer to split it, so everyone chips in.

When it's time to split the bill at the end of the dinner, we say we're "going Dutch." It simply means that everyone pays for their part. The expression comes from the idea that Dutch people are often careful with money.

Next time your best friend offers to pick up the whole tab, you can relieve him or her by offering to go Dutch!

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"I would love to buy that car, but I don't want to break the bank."

Have you ever had to "break the bank"? We're not talking about committing a crime, but the common expression that refers to spending a large amount of money, often difficult to afford.

When we go overboard and what we have to pay is a bit more than we can afford, we say we've "broken the bank." Scholars believe that the idiom emerged between the 17th and 18th centuries but really took hold in the mid-19th century. It was used in the gambling world when someone won so much money that the casino (the house or the bank) couldn't pay out.

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"I'd love to go on that trip with you, but I'm saving for a rainy day."

Do you like rain, or do you prefer sunny days? Beyond our personal tastes, rainy days have always been viewed as "gloomy days," commonly associated with sadness or hardship.

When someone says they prefer to "save for a rainy day," they're talking about being careful with money, saving up for tough times when they'll really need those dollars.

Some theories suggest the phrase dates back to 16th-century agricultural societies in Europe. While a little rain was good for the fields, excessive rainfall could ruin the crops, leaving many people without enough food. In those years, similar sayings and proverbs related to the weather were present, and by the 18th century, "saving for a rainy day" was already seen in spoken and written English.

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"I had to fork over $400 to fix my roof."

Some expenses are fun, but others aren't so much. When we have to pay for something we'd rather not, we can say we have to "fork over" the cash. Used in informal contexts, to "fork over" simply means to give or hand over money, especially when it's reluctantly.

Initially, it was used to describe handing over all kinds of things, but over time, the meaning associated with money stuck. It's believed that this idiom arose in the 19th century, when "to fork" was used as slang to describe pocket-picking with two or three fingers, resembling the prongs of a fork.