Holocaust - Word corner - Brief Article

New Internationalist, Jan-Feb, 2002 by Susan Watkin

Today the word holocaust, is often used to describe any event involving great loss of life. Holocaust is from the Greek holos (meaning whole', as in 'holistic') and kaustos (meaning 'burnt', as in caustic). Early holocausts involved a 'complete burning' or a 'burnt offering' and especially animal sacrifices.

Milton first used holocaust in the sense of 'massacre' in Samson Agonistes in 1671. Holocaust was not used to describe the Nazis' genocide of European Jews during the Second World War until 1965.