Here's a breakdown of the historical development:
Ancient Greece:
* ἴδιος (idios): This word initially meant "one's own" or "peculiar" and was used to describe things that were distinct or unique.
Middle Ages:
* Latin: idioma: Latin adopted the Greek word, but its meaning evolved to refer to a "peculiar style of speaking," particularly emphasizing differences between dialects or languages.
Modern English:
* Idiom: English borrowed the Latin word, and it gained its current meaning around the 16th century. It now refers to a phrase or expression whose meaning is not deducible from the literal meaning of its parts.
Why are they called "idioms"?
The connection between the original meaning of "idios" and the modern definition of "idiom" lies in the fact that idioms are often:
* Peculiar to a specific language or culture: They are unique and don't translate literally.
* Have a figurative or non-literal meaning: The phrase is understood as something different from its individual words.
So, the word "idiom" captures the essence of these phrases – they are specific to a language or culture, like something that is "one's own."