I understand the term "kudos" but where did it originate and is it short for another word?

Answer 1

This answers your exact question.

ku‧dos1  /ˈkudoʊz, -doʊs, -dɒs, ˈkyu-/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[koo-dohz, -dohs, -dos, kyoo-] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun (used with a singular verb)
honor; glory; acclaim: He received kudos from everyone on his performance.
[Origin: 1825–35; irreg. transliteration of Gk kŷdos]

—Usage note In the 19th century, kudos1 entered English as a singular noun, a transliteration of a Greek singular noun kŷdos meaning “praise or renown.” It was at first used largely in academic circles, but it gained wider currency in the 1920s in journalistic use, particularly in headlines: Playwright receives kudos. Kudos given to track record breakers. Kudos is often used, as in these examples, in contexts that do not clearly indicate whether it is singular or plural; and because it ends in -s, the marker of regular plurals in English, kudos has come to be widely regarded and used as a plural noun meaning “accolades” rather than as a singular mass noun meaning “honor or glory.”The singular form kudo has been produced from kudos by back formation, the same process that gave us the singular pea from pease, originally both singular and plural, sherry from Xeres (an earlier spelling of the Spanish city Jerez), and cherry from the French singular noun cherise. This singular form has developed the meanings “honor” and “statement of praise, accolade.”Both the singular form kudo and kudos as a plural are today most common in journalistic writing. Some usage guides warn against using them.

Answer 2

From the Greek kydos which entered English as British university slang in the early 1800s. It came to America in the 1920s and 1930s, used frequently by Time magazine. In fact, kudos and tycoon are about the last remnants of the Time-style vocabulary that Henry Luce and his cohorts evolved in the early days of that magazine.
Incidentally, kudos is singular, meaning honour, fame, or glory. If you hear someone say, "I give a kudo to so and so"

Answer 3

From the Greek kydos which entered English as British university slang in the early 1800s. It came to America in the 1920s and 1930s, used frequently by Time magazine. In fact, kudos and tycoon are about the last remnants of the Time-style vocabulary that Henry Luce and his cohorts evolved in the early days of that magazine.

Incidentally, kudos is singular, meaning honour, fame, or glory. If you hear someone say, "I give a kudo to so and so" (Dr. Laura did this the other day)on her show)--now that's clueless(trying to be funny.. as I do not like that Laura gal).

Answer 4

Noun 1. kudos - an expression of approval and commendation; "he always appreciated praise for his work"
Synonyms: praise, congratulations

By Wordnet Dictionary


Kudos: (kū"dŏs), n. Glory; fame; renown; praise. W. H. Russel.

Kudos: , v. t. To praise; to extol; to glorify. “Kudos'd egregiously.” Southey.


By Webster Dictionary



Kudos (always plural) has two main meanings:

"fame and renown resulting from an act or achievement; prestige" thus by logical extension is often used as a praising remark.
A points system in the computer game Project Gotham Racing and its sequel, Project Gotham Racing 2, whereby one accrues points by outstanding driving, including performing slides, overtaking, and "getting a good line around a corner".
Kudos is also the name of a successful television production company in the United Kingdom. See Kudos (production company).

The QDOS operating system was supposedly named so to sound as kudos.

Origin
Apparently the word originated from the Greek κυδος (kydos, meaning wonder, in the sense of awe) and entered English as British university slang in the early 1800s. Frequently used by Time magazine it came to America in the 1920s and 1930s.

Answer 5

Kudos" means "glory" or "fame" in Greek. It is a singular noun in spite of the "s".

It entered English as British university slang in the early 1800s

Answer 6

It's Greek for "praise." It's also singular in form. It is not the plural of kudo.