Advertisement

theme (n.)

early 14c., teme, "subject or topic on which a person writes or speaks," from Old French tesme (13c., with silent -s- "indicating vowel length" [OED, 1989], Modern French thème) and directly from Latin thema "a subject, thesis," from Greek thema "a proposition, subject; deposit," etymologically "something set down, what is laid down." It is reconstructed (Watkins) to be from a suffixed form of PIE root *dhe- "to set, put." The Greek word also could mean "a prize; the subject of an argument; a province, a military district; a primary word."

The classical th- was restored c. 1400, The meaning "school essay" is from 1540s. The extension to music is recorded by 1670s; theme song is attested by 1929. Theme park is from 1960.

also from early 14c.
Advertisement

Trends of theme

updated on March 14, 2024

Advertisement