Heart
/hɑːrt/noun
The organ in the body that pumps blood and is often regarded as the center of emotion.
Did you know?In ancient cultures, the heart was believed to be the seat of the soul and intellect, often associated with divine connections and emotional power.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kard-
“to be hard or strong, referring to the heart's central role.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
καρδία (kardía)
“the heart, seen as the center of emotions and thought.”
Latin
Latin
cor, cordis
“the heart, symbolizing both physical and emotional aspects of life.”
Old English
Old English
heorte
“the heart, used to denote both the physical organ and the essence of human emotion.”
Middle English
Middle English
herte
“the heart, increasingly tied to feelings of love and emotion.”
Modern English
English
heart
“the organ and symbolic center of love and feelings.”