Where does “amnesia” come from?

Amnesia comes from Latin amnesia, from Ancient Greek ἀμνησία, composed of the prefix ἀ- and a root from Proto-Indo-European n̥-, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ne meaning "not" combined with sem- meaning "to have."

amnesia (English): Loss of memory; forgetfulness; Forgetfulness

Definitions

  1. Loss of memory; forgetfulness; Forgetfulness

Ancestry of “amnesia”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinamnesia
2Ancient Greekἀμνησίαforgetfulness
3Ancient Greekἀ-The alpha privativum, used to make words that...
4Proto-Hellenichə-same; together
5Proto-Indo-Europeansm̥-one; with, together
6Proto-Indo-Europeansem-together, one

Words derived from “amnesia

Every word from Proto-Indo-European sem-
amnesia — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer