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
- A widespread disease that affects many...
Ancestry of “epidemic”, step by step
epidemic traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via French épidémique
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | épidémique | epidemic |
| 2 | French | épidémie | epidemic |
| 3 | Latin | epidemia | epidemic diseases |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ἐπιδήμιος | among the people |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | ἐπι- | on, upon, on top of, all over, covering; on,... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | ἐπί | as well, besides; For usage in composition, see... |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | Ἡμέρα | — |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | ἦμαρ | day; by day; midday |
| 9 | Proto-Hellenic | ā́mər | day |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eh₃mr̥ | heat |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eh₃- | to be hot; to burn |
via Catalan epidèmia
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalan | epidèmia | epidemic |