Where does “bipolar” come from?

Bipolar comes from English bi- plus polar, which derives from Latin polāris, formed from Latin pōlus meaning "pole" and the Latin suffix -ālis.

bipolar (English): Involving or having both extremes or poles at the...

Definitions

  1. Involving or having both extremes or poles at the...

Ancestry of “bipolar”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpolarOf or having a pole or polarity; Of, relating to,...
2Latinpolāris
3Latinpoluspole
4Ancient Greekπόλοςpivot, hinge, axis, pole; axis of the celestial...
5Proto-Indo-Europeankʷel-to turn

Words derived from “bipolar

Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷel-Every word from Ancient Greek πόλοςEvery word from Latin polus