Agora
/ˈæɡ.ə.rə/noun
A public open space in an ancient Greek city, especially one used for assemblies, markets, and civic life.
Did you know?Agora comes from the Greek verb meaning “to gather,” and its deeper root also gave us words tied to assembly and the idea of people being brought together in one place.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ger-
“to gather, assemble”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἀγορά (agorá)
“assembly; place of assembly; later, marketplace”
Classical Greek
Greek
ἀγείρω (ageírō)
“I gather, collect”
Latin
Latin
agora
“a Greek-style public market or assembly place (borrowed term)”
Modern English
English
agora
“an open public space used for meetings, markets, or discussion”
Explore more surprising origins