What is the ultimate etymological origin of the term 'pedagogy'?

Concept

Etymology traces a word through its historical source forms and roots. An English term may pass through French or Latin while its ultimate lexical roots belong to an earlier language.

The Greek family behind pedagogy combines paid-, meaning child, with agōgos, meaning leader or guide; paidagōgia denotes the work, guidance, or education associated with a pedagogue.

Application

Pedagogy entered English through later European forms, but its ultimate source is the Greek paidagōgia, derived from paidagōgos. Therefore the Greek form is the best answer among the choices.

Contrast

• French éducation and Latin educatio belong to the history of the separate English word education.

• German Bildung means formation or education and names a distinct German intellectual concept.

• Greek paidagōgia belongs to the paidagōgos word family from which pedagogy ultimately derives.

Cross-check

Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries and Merriam-Webster both trace pedagogy to Greek paidagōgia/paidagōgos, confirming the Greek origin.

Result: Greek word 'paidagōgia'.