- cycle
- {{11}}cycle (n.) late 14c., from L.L. cyclus, from Gk. kyklos "circle, wheel, any circular body, circular motion, cycle of events," from PIE *kwel- "to roll, to move around, wheel" (Cf. Skt. cakram "circle, wheel," carati "he moves, wanders;" Avestan caraiti "applies himself," c'axra "chariot, wagon;" Gk. polos "a round axis" (PIE *kw- becomes Gk. p- before some vowels), polein "move around;" L. colere "to frequent, dwell in, to cultivate, move around," cultus "tended, cultivated," hence also "polished," colonus "husbandman, tenant farmer, settler, colonist;" Lith. kelias "a road, a way;" O.N. hvel, O.E. hweol "wheel;" O.Rus. kolo, Pol. koЕ‚o, Rus. koleso "a wheel").{{12}}cycle (v.) 1842, "revolve in cycles," from CYCLE (Cf. cycle) (n.). Meaning "to ride a bicycle" is from 1883. Related: Cycled; cycling.
Etymology dictionary. 2014.