Where does “asymptomatic” come from?
Asymptomatic comes from English a- (not) and English symptomatic, which derives from Latin ad- (toward) combined with Latin symptōma, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "off" and "to grow."
asymptomatic (English): Not exhibiting any symptoms of disease; A patient...
Definitions
- Not exhibiting any symptoms of disease; A patient...
Ancestry of “asymptomatic”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | symptomatic | Showing symptoms; Relating to, based on, or... |
| 2 | French | symptomatique | symptomatic |
| 3 | New Latin | symptomaticus | — |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | συμπτωματικός | accidental, coincidental |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | σύμπτωμα | anything that has befallen one, a chance,... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | συμπίπτω | I fall together, meet violently; I fall upon,... |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | σῠν- | together; with, together |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | σύν | beside, with |
| 9 | Proto-Hellenic | *ksún | beside, with |