Where does “atony” come from?
Atony comes from New Latin atonia, from Ancient Greek ἀτονία, composed of the prefix ἀ- and τείνω, ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "not" and "to stretch."
atony (English): Lack of muscle tone; flaccidity or atonia
Definitions
- Lack of muscle tone; flaccidity or atonia
Ancestry of “atony”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | New Latin | atonia | — |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | ἀτονία | languor |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | ἄτονος | languid |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ἀ- | The alpha privativum, used to make words that... |
| 5 | Proto-Hellenic | hə- | same; together |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | sm̥- | one; with, together |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | sem- | together, one |