Английский Этимологический словарь - god

- O.E. god "supreme being, deity," from P.Gmc. *guthan, from PIE *ghut- "that which is invoked," from root *gheu(e)- "to call, invoke." But some trace it to PIE *ghu-to- "poured," from root *gheu- "to pour, pour a libation" (source of Gk. khein "to pour," khoane "funnel" and khymos "juice;" also in the phrase khute gaia "poured earth," referring to a burial mound). "Given the Greek facts, the Germanic form may have referred in the first instance to the spirit immanent in a burial mound." [Watkins] Originally neut. in Gmc., the gender shifted to masc. after the coming of Christianity. Godsend is from 1814, originally "a wreck;" sense of "happy chance" is from 1831. God-fearing is attested from 1835; godawful is from 1878. Godhead, with maidenhead, are sole survivors of M.E. -hede, cognate with -hood and Ger. -heit. God bless you after someone sneezes is credited to St. Gregory the Great, but the pagan Romans (Absit omen) and Greeks had similar customs.