Word Drift · History of Words
Where does the word "mentor" come from?
"Mentor," a wise adviser, comes from a name. In Homer's Odyssey, Mentor is the friend of Odysseus and adviser of his son Telemachus, though often it is actually the goddess Athena in disguise. English used it as an ordinary word by 1750, and the name itself may mean "adviser," from a root meaning "to think."
Source: “mentor” in the Online Etymology Dictionary (Etymonline), read 2026-10-19.
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Questions
Who was Mentor in the Odyssey?
The friend of Odysseus and adviser to his son Telemachus. In many scenes the goddess Athena takes his form.
When did mentor become a common English word?
In 1750, meaning a wise adviser or trusted counselor. Etymonline notes the general use probably came through later popular romances, where Mentor plays a bigger part than in Homer.
When did "mentor" become a verb?
"To mentor" is recorded from 1888.