Pilgrim

Pilgrim

Noun · /ˈpɪlɡrɪm/ · a person who journeys to a sacred or meaningful place

Definition

A pilgrim is a person who undertakes a journey — a pilgrimage — to a sacred, holy, or otherwise deeply significant place. Pilgrims travel for religious devotion, spiritual growth, or personal transformation. The journey itself is as important as the destination. In historical context, the Pilgrims (capitalised) specifically refers to the English settlers who sailed on the Mayflower to Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620.

Origin

From Latin peregrinus (foreigner, traveller), via Old French pelerin. The Latin root also gives us the word peregrine (the falcon named for its migratory nature). The word entered English in the 12th century, originally referring to any religious traveller — someone who journeyed to Jerusalem, Rome, or Santiago de Compostela. Over time, it broadened to include any purposeful journey of spiritual or personal significance.