Late 16th century; earliest use found in Philip Sidney (1554–1586), author and courtier. From post-classical Latin palingenesia regeneration, rebirth (10th cent.; 8th cent. in glossaries; cited as a Greek word in classical Latin authors, and in Latin transcription in some MSS of post-classical Latin authors) from Hellenistic Greek παλιγγενεσία from ancient Greek πάλιν again + γένεσις birth, generation, origin.