Where does “atomic” come from?
Atomic derives from English atom, from Ancient Greek ἄτομος meaning indivisible, from the prefix ἀ- meaning not and a root from Proto-Indo-European sem- meaning one.
atomic (English): Of or relating to atoms; composed of atoms;...
Definitions
- Of or relating to atoms; composed of atoms;...
Ancestry of “atomic”, step by step
atomic traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English atom
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | atom | The smallest possible amount of matter which... |
| 2 | Middle English | attome | atom |
| 3 | Middle French | athome | atom |
| 4 | Latin | atomus | indivisible; an atom, particle incapable of being... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | ἄτομος | uncut; indivisible, not capable of being... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | ἀ- | The alpha privativum, used to make words that... |
| 7 | Proto-Hellenic | hə- | same; together |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | sm̥- | one; with, together |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | sem- | together, one |
via French atomique
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | atomique | atomic |
| 2 | French | -ique | Used to form adjectives from nouns: -ic, -ical,... |
| 3 | Middle French | -ique | ic |
| 4 | Old French | -ique | -ic |
| 5 | Latin | -icus | belonging to; derived from; of or pertaining to;... |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | *-ikos | forms adjectives with the sense of 'of or pertaining to' |