Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “epidemic” come from?

Epidemic comes from French épidémique, formed from French épi- combined with French -ique, derived from Latin -icus, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European -kos and deh₂-.

epidemic (English): A widespread disease that affects many...

Definitions

  1. A widespread disease that affects many...

Ancestry of “epidemic”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchépidémiqueepidemic
2Frenchépidémieepidemic
3Latinepidemia—
4Ancient Greekἐπιδήμιος—
5Ancient Greekἐπι-on, upon, on top of, all over, covering; on,...
6Ancient Greekἐπίas well, besides; For usage in composition, see...
7Ancient GreekἩμέρα—
8Ancient Greekἦμαρday; by day; midday
9Proto-Hellenicā́mər—
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eh₃mr̥heat
11Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eh₃-to be hot; to burn

Words derived from “epidemic”

  • epidemically
  • nonepidemic
  • interepidemic
  • epidemicity
  • subepidemic
  • ecoepidemic
  • iatroepidemic
  • virgin fields epidemic
  • hyperepidemic
  • epidemiclike
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eh₃- →