We often use words without knowing their etymology and this is quite normal, because we cannot know all the linguistic origins of the dictionary. However, it is interesting to have in mind some etymologies to better understand the dimension of certain words. Massage is one of these words. A word that is used in the public or private sphere, a word that often comes up in the lexical field of well-being. This article thus draws up the etymology of this word.
Appearance in the French language
Molière's language is very rich, it is of course a truism to repeat it. It is rich in influences and the word massage which appeared in the 19th century in its modern form is a witness to this. The word massage in French has also influenced the different European languages such as English or German at a time when massage benefited from a significant trend for its well-being virtues. Different hypotheses therefore explain the origin of the word in French.
Origin from ancient Greek "massein"
The ancient Greeks were masters in the therapeutic practice of massage. We invite you to read the history of massage to discover it. Naturally, one of the first etymologies of the word massage comes from the ancient Greek "massein" meaning to knead, massage being the act of kneading the body with the hands. Moreover, athletes participating in the Olympic Games during ancient Greece already practiced massage to optimize their muscle recovery.
Origin from the Latin "massare"
The Romans admired Greek civilization on many levels and were successors to the Greeks in many ways. Whether in their continuity of wellness practices such as thermal baths or massage, the Romans were continuators of this civilizational heritage. The Latin root massare pétir is thus a possible etymology for massage, especially when we know the historical links between the French language and Latin.
Origin of the Arabic "massa"
Medieval science, and especially medical science, owes a lot to Arabic-speaking scholars like Averroes. This therapeutic art thus gave a regenerative importance to massage. The Arabic word "massa" meaning to press lightly, touch or palpate could very probably have influenced the French word massage. Moreover, other words from the Arabic language have influenced the French language such as Alcohol coming from the Arabic al-kuhl, a cosmetic product whose name was later taken up by medieval alchemists.
Conclusion
The word massage has a linguistic history that reveals the depth of the practice of massage, which is a thousand-year-old tradition at the heart of well-being and in the history of human civilizations.
