relic

英文词源

relic

relic: [13] A relic is etymologically something ‘left’ behind. The word comes via Old French relique from Latin reliquiae ‘remains, particularly of a dead saint’. This was a noun use of the feminine plural of reliquus ‘remaining’, an adjective formed with the prefix re- from the base *liq- ‘leave’ (source also of English delinquent [17] – etymologically ‘leaving things undone’ – and relinquish [15], and also of ellipse, lend, and loan).
=> delinquent, ellipse, lend, loan, relinquish

relic (n.)

early 13c., "body part or other object from a holy person," from Old French relique (11c., plural reliques), from Late Latin reliquiæ (plural) "remains of a martyr," in classical Latin "remains, remnants," noun use of fem. plural of reliquus "remaining, that which remains," related to relinquere (perfective reliqui) "to leave behind" (see relinquish). Sense of "remains, ruins" is from early 14c. Old English used reliquias, directly from Latin.