Where does “drastic” come from?
Drastic derives from Ancient Greek δραστικός, from δράω meaning "to do or act," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European dréwh₂-eti.
drastic (English): Having a strong or far-reaching effect; extreme,...
Definitions
- Having a strong or far-reaching effect; extreme,...
Ancestry of “drastic”, step by step
drastic traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via French drastique
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | drastique | drastic |
| 2 | Latin | drasticus | — |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | δραστικός | efficient |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | δρᾶσῐς | strength, efficacy |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | δράω | I act, I take action, I achieve |
| 6 | Proto-Hellenic | dráwō | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | dréwh₂-eti | to run, act |
via Ancient Greek δρᾱστῐκός
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ancient Greek | δρᾱστῐκός | efficient |