Where does “amphetamine” come from?

Amphetamine is a shortened form of alpha-methylphenethylamine, a chemical compound name coined in English from Greek alpha and German methylphenethylamin.

amphetamine (English): The racemic freebase of 1-phenylpropan-2-amine;...

Definitions

  1. The racemic freebase of 1-phenylpropan-2-amine;...

Ancestry of “amphetamine”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishalpha-methylphenethylamineSynonym of amphetamine
2EnglishmethylphenethylamineAny of several isomeric C- or N- methyl...
3EnglishphenethylamineAn aromatic amine which is a colorless liquid at...
4Englishethylaminea colourless, volatile liquid amine, CH-CH-NH...
5EnglishethylThe univalent hydrocarbon radical, CH, formally...
6Ancient GreekΑἰθήρUpper Air
7Ancient GreekαἴθωTo ignite, kindle, light; To burn, blaze
8Proto-Hellenic*áitʰōto ignite

Words derived from “amphetamine

Every word from Proto-Hellenic *áitʰōEvery word from Ancient Greek αἴθωEvery word from Ancient Greek Αἰθήρ