English word origin

Etymology of Salem

From Biblical Hebrew שָׁלֵם (šālēm) (Genesis 14:18).

3 source sectionsExtended source reportWiktionary original ↗

In this entry · 3 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Source etymology 1

Original entry ↗

name

The biblical place ruled by Melchizedek; mostly identified with Jerusalem. · The capital city of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. · A city, the county seat of Fulton County, Arkansas. · An unincorporated community in Pike County, Arkansas.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From Biblical Hebrew שָׁלֵם (šālēm) (Genesis 14:18).

This page abbreviates 15 auxiliary source items. The etymology narrative is not shortened. Omission counts are available in the audit fields below; consult the original for complete auxiliary material.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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    },
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      "שָׁלֵם",
      "שלם#Hebrew"
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Source etymology 2

Original entry ↗

name

A town and district in Tamil Nadu, India.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Etymology tree Old Tamil *𑀓𑁂𑀭𑀴𑁆 (*kēraḷ) Old Tamil -𑀅𑀫𑁆 (-am) ? Old Tamil 𑀓𑁂𑀭𑀴𑀫𑁆 (kēraḷam) Tamil சேரலம் (cēralam)? Tamil சேலம் (cēlam)bor. English Salem Borrowed from Tamil சேலம் (cēlam).

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":bor",
        "3": "ta:சேலம்",
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        "text": "+",
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      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nOld Tamil *𑀓𑁂𑀭𑀴𑁆 (*kēraḷ)\nOld Tamil -𑀅𑀫𑁆 (-am)\n?\nOld Tamil 𑀓𑁂𑀭𑀴𑀫𑁆 (kēraḷam)\nTamil சேரலம் (cēralam)?\nTamil சேலம் (cēlam)bor.\nEnglish Salem\n[Appendix:Glossary#loanword|Borrowed]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old Tamil\", \"term\" : \"*𑀓𑁂𑀭𑀴𑁆\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"oty\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old Tamil\", \"term\" : \"-𑀅𑀫𑁆\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"oty\" } ], \"is_uncertain\" : true, \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old Tamil\", \"term\" : \"𑀓𑁂𑀭𑀴𑀫𑁆\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"oty\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Tamil\", \"term\" : \"சேரலம்\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"ta\" } ], \"is_uncertain\" : true, \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Tamil\", \"term\" : \"சேலம்\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ta\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"Salem\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-id=\"Tamil town\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"Salem\" id=\"English:_Tamil_town\">\nBorrowed from Tamil சேலம் (cēlam)."
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  ],
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    [
      "*𑀓𑁂𑀭𑀴𑁆",
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    ],
    [
      "-𑀅𑀫𑁆",
      "-𑀅𑀫𑁆#Old_Tamil"
    ],
    [
      "𑀓𑁂𑀭𑀴𑀫𑁆",
      "𑀓𑁂𑀭𑀴𑀫𑁆#Old_Tamil"
    ],
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      "சேரலம்",
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    ],
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      "சேலம்",
      "சேலம்#Tamil"
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      "சேலம்",
      "சேலம்#Tamil"
    ]
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Source etymology 3

Original entry ↗

name

A male given name from Arabic. · A surname from Arabic.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Borrowed from Arabic سَالِم (sālim).

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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  "links": [
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      "سَالِم",
      "سالم#Arabic"
    ]
  ],
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Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for Salem →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger

Machine-source provenance

Source SHA-256: 5ff2c072f8099f2d2ce484bd6957bf179f046d2ad37bc36555edf8bb84cb5291
Import run: 73216b9a9b78ed3830994bf853103716f5a4dc57099e371e9f8fdc468facca26
Permanent entry ID: w-U2FsZW0