Hypnos
/ˈhɪp.nɒs/noun
In Greek mythology, the personification of sleep.
Did you know?In Greek myth, Hypnos was the twin brother of Thanatos, linking sleep directly to death in a way the ancient world found deeply uncanny.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Ὕπνος (Hýpnos)
“Sleep; the personification of sleep in Greek mythology.”
Late Greek
Greek
ὑπνόω (hypnóō)
“To put to sleep, or to fall asleep.”
Late Latin
Latin
hypnos
“Sleep, borrowed from Greek in learned usage.”
19th Century
English
hypnosis
“A sleep-like trance state, named from Greek ὕπνος.”
Modern English
English
hypnos
“A learned reference to the Greek god or concept of sleep.”