Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “electricity” come from?

Electricity comes from English electric plus the French suffix -ité, derived from Latin -itas, which traces back through Proto-Indo-European -it-.

electricity (English): Originally, a property of amber and certain other...

Definitions

  1. Originally, a property of amber and certain other...

Ancestry of “electricity”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishelectricOf, relating to, produced by, operated with, or...
2English-allyAlternative form of -ly , used with adjectives in...
3EnglishahistoricSynonym of ahistorical
4EnglishhistoricVery important; noteworthy: having importance or...
5Latinhistoricushistorical
6Latinhistoriahistory; account; story
7Ancient Greekἱστορίαinquiry, examination, systematic observation,...
8Ancient Greekἱστορέωto inquire, ask; to examine, observe; to record,...
9Ancient Greekἵστωρone who knows law and right, judge; witness; a...
10Proto-Hellenicwístōr—
11Proto-Indo-Europeanwéydtōrone who has seen, one who knows
12Indo-European*weyd-—

Words derived from “electricity”

  • hydroelectricity
  • piezoelectricity
  • ferroelectricity
  • bioelectricity
  • thermoelectricity
  • pyroelectricity
  • magnetoelectricity
  • dielectricity
  • photoelectricity
  • flexoelectricity
  • triboelectricity
  • lecky
  • antiferroelectricity
  • geoelectricity
  • myoelectricity
  • radioelectricity
  • paraelectricity
  • ferrielectricity
  • magnetoferroelectricity
  • photoélectricité
  • électricité
  • hydroélectricité
  • radioélectricité
  • ferroélectricité
Every word from Indo-European *weyd- →