fons et origo

noun

fons et ori·​go

ˌfōn(t)ˌsetəˈrē(ˌ)gō

: source and origin

western Europe, which … is always dimly assumed as the fons et origo of all social forces

—Donald Davidson

: original cause

that this survival of the family god was the fons et origo of Hebrew monolatry

—Times Literary Supplement

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin

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