The name originated from the Greek Αικατερίνη Aikaterinē (εκ του καθαρός: εξαγνισμένη ή εαρινή, ανοιξιάτικη). The earliest known use of the Greek name was in reference to Saint Catherine of Alexandria.
The theory that the name comes from Hecate, the name of the Greek goddess of magic, is regarded by the editors of the Oxford Dictionary of First Names as unconvincing.1
Another potential origin of the name is the Armenian word Կատար gadar meaning peak or summit. In Armenian, the equivalent name is Կատարինէ Gadarine; coincidentally the ending ինէ ine is homophonous with the modern Greek verb ειναι 'she is', suggesting a macaronic phrase meaning "she is the summit".
The name has subsequently come to be associated with the Greek adjective καθαρός katharos, meaning 'pure', leading to the alternative spellings Katharine and Katherine. The former spelling, with a middle a, was more common in the past and is currently more popular in the United States than in Britain. Katherine, with a middle e, was first recorded in England in 1196 after being brought back from the Crusades.2
The theory that the name comes from Hecate, the name of the Greek goddess of magic, is regarded by the editors of the Oxford Dictionary of First Names as unconvincing.1
Another potential origin of the name is the Armenian word Կատար gadar meaning peak or summit. In Armenian, the equivalent name is Կատարինէ Gadarine; coincidentally the ending ինէ ine is homophonous with the modern Greek verb ειναι 'she is', suggesting a macaronic phrase meaning "she is the summit".
The name has subsequently come to be associated with the Greek adjective καθαρός katharos, meaning 'pure', leading to the alternative spellings Katharine and Katherine. The former spelling, with a middle a, was more common in the past and is currently more popular in the United States than in Britain. Katherine, with a middle e, was first recorded in England in 1196 after being brought back from the Crusades.2
Katharine of Avalon.
by cletis87 January 12, 2013
Get the Katharine mug.A piece sunshine in your life.someone who people always want to be around because of her gorgeously amazing personality. although she may be nice your personality is amazing she is highly attractive and because her smile.she is extremely talented in the arts and she has a lot of friends she is very likeable if you find yourself engaged in a relationship with the captain do not ruin the chance because you are very lucky.
by Dezyria Beiber November 25, 2016
Get the Katherine mug.Related Words
Kathyline • katheline • katholine • kathylie • kathylina • katherine • katharine • kathrine • Katherine Pierce • Katherine lashay
Prick up your ears, she’s the Katherine who lost her head. For her promiscuity outside of wedlock. You better lock up your husbands and sons because K Howard is here and the fun has begun
by six the musical March 14, 2022
Get the Katherine Howard mug.An amazing person. Everyone wishes they had a friend named Katherine. She is unique, tries hard in life, and likes only 1 guy. She's smart, kind, and trustworthy. But on the inside is very insecure. Guys may like her, but think she's out of their league, so they give up. If you know a Katherine, tell her she's pretty, and it will make her day.
Tommy: Omg, it's Katherine!
His friend: Hey, dont you like her?
Tommy: Well, I guess. But she's too good for me...
MEANWHILE
Katherine: Oh, its Tommy...
Her friend: Dont you like him?
Katherine: Im not pretty enough for him...
His friend: Hey, dont you like her?
Tommy: Well, I guess. But she's too good for me...
MEANWHILE
Katherine: Oh, its Tommy...
Her friend: Dont you like him?
Katherine: Im not pretty enough for him...
by GuessWhoThisIs February 14, 2013
Get the Katherine mug.(1485-1536) Katherine of Aragon was the first wife of Henry VIII and the mother of Mary Tudor, also known as "Bloody Mary".
Katherine and Henry were married for 24 years until Henry divorced her for Anne Boleyn; Henry's desire for an heir had led him to defy the Catholic church and would lead to the English Reformation.
However much prowess that Katherine showed as a ruler, however humanitarian that she was, however popular that she was among her people, it all came to nothing as her six pregnancies produced only one surviving child, a daughter, and her looks were ravaged by time, stress, and constant pregnancy.
Katherine and Henry were married for 24 years until Henry divorced her for Anne Boleyn; Henry's desire for an heir had led him to defy the Catholic church and would lead to the English Reformation.
However much prowess that Katherine showed as a ruler, however humanitarian that she was, however popular that she was among her people, it all came to nothing as her six pregnancies produced only one surviving child, a daughter, and her looks were ravaged by time, stress, and constant pregnancy.
"...For my part, I pardon thou everything, and I desire to devoutly pray God that He will pardon thou also. For the rest, I commend unto thou our doughtere Mary, beseeching thou to be a good father unto her... Lastly, I makest this vouge (vow), that mine eyes desire thou aboufe all things."
-from Katherine of Aragon's deathbed letter to Henry VIII
A petite, buxom redhead and the daughter of warrior monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, Katherine of Aragon would have ended very differently had her sons survived. The love of her people, her own determination, and the support of foreign allies could not stop Henry from banishing her. Even her daughter was prevented from seeing her.
-from Katherine of Aragon's deathbed letter to Henry VIII
A petite, buxom redhead and the daughter of warrior monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, Katherine of Aragon would have ended very differently had her sons survived. The love of her people, her own determination, and the support of foreign allies could not stop Henry from banishing her. Even her daughter was prevented from seeing her.
by Lorelili January 26, 2011
Get the Katherine of Aragon mug.A girl that is smart, funny, and drop dead gorgeous. She is a very understanding person and will listen to different sides of an argument. She easily gets irritated when people spell her name incorrectly. (For Example; Katherine,Catherine, Cathrine) She doesn't like having huge groups of friends and ignores other peoples' opinions on her. She loves food,music and sleeping. She stands out from anyone else and is very unique in her own ways. She's rly good at sex.
by Gokupowerrangersexyness November 20, 2016
Get the kathrine mug.Katherine is the most amazing person you will ever meet! She is down to earth, but yet can be the craziest person! She cares about everybody and will stand up for everything and everyone! I love her to death! And i hope that we'll get to travel to New York and go to Gilly Hicks! and B.T.W she is not conceited no matter WHAT she says!(;
by Gilly Hicks Girl!!(: November 25, 2011
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