Where does “atrophy” come from?
Atrophy comes from French atrophie, from Latin atrophia, from Ancient Greek ἀτροφία, composed of ἀ- (not) and τρέφω (to nourish), literally meaning "lack of nourishment."
atrophy (English): A reduction in the functionality of an organ...
Definitions
- A reduction in the functionality of an organ...
Ancestry of “atrophy”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | atrophie | atrophy |
| 2 | Latin | atrophia | atrophy |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | ἀτροφία | a wasting away; lack of food, hunger |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ἄτροφος | ill-fed, un-nourished |
| 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 |