Etymology of “Lesbian”
Lesbian entered English in the late 16th century as an adjective meaning “of Lesbos” (from Latin Lesbius/Lesbia < Greek Lesbios), with the sexual-sense “female homosexual” developing in the 19th century; the formation is the toponym Lesbos + the adjectival suffix -ian. Historical forms & timeline Period Form (attested/recorded) Sense Notes Classical Greek (5th–4th c. BCE) … Read more