Where does “atom” come from?
Atom comes from Ancient Greek ἄτομος, composed of the prefix ἀ- meaning "not" and a root meaning "to cut," denoting something indivisible.
atom (English): The smallest possible amount of matter which...
Definitions
- The smallest possible amount of matter which...
Ancestry of “atom”, step by step
atom traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English attome
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | attome | atom |
| 2 | Middle French | athome | atom |
| 3 | Latin | atomus | indivisible; an atom, particle incapable of being... |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ἄτομος | uncut; indivisible, not capable of being... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | ἀ- | The alpha privativum, used to make words that... |
| 6 | Proto-Hellenic | hə- | same; together |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | sm̥- | one; with, together |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | sem- | together, one |
via Old French atome
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | atome | — |
via Manipuri ꯑꯇꯣꯝ
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manipuri | ꯑꯇꯣꯝ | — |