Eloise

/ɛˈloʊiz/ noun

Definition

A feminine given name of French origin, meaning 'healthy' or 'wide,' famously borne by the medieval scholar Héloïse who had a famous love affair with philosopher Abelard.

Etymology

From Old German 'Helewidis,' combining 'heil' (whole, uninjured) and 'wid' (wide). The modern French 'Eloise' comes through Norman influence and became famous through the tragic medieval romance.

Kelly Says

Héloïse and Abelard's love letters from the 12th century are some of the most famous pieces of romantic literature ever written—their story influenced how people thought about passionate love for centuries and is still studied in universities today.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.