Today I came across the word stigmata, which refers to the appearance of pain or wounds in the same locations as those associated with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The term is pluralized with the suffix -ata; a singular stigma originally denoted a mark on the skin in general. Over time, this concept evolved to symbolize a “mark of disgrace” in the early seventeenth century, leading to the modern usage of the word stigma. Its roots can be traced back to the Latin language, ultimately deriving from the Ancient Greek verb stizein, meaning “to mark” or “tattoo”. This Greek term can be linked to the Proto-Hellenic word stiddo, which is believed to have originated from the Proto-Indo-European reconstruction steig, signifying “stick” or “point” (a root found in various words such as extinguish, thistle, stick, and instinct; topics that may be explored in future articles). While the usage of stigma in literature has been increasing, the term stigmata has been declining since a peak in the 1910s.
