Where does “equilibrium” come from?
Equilibrium derives from Latin aequilibrium, formed from Latin aequus meaning "equal" and Latin -ius, tracing through Proto-Indo-European -ósyo and Proto-Italic -jos to Proto-Indo-European -yós.
equilibrium (English): The condition of a system in which competing...
Definitions
- The condition of a system in which competing...
Ancestry of “equilibrium”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | æquilībrium | A level or horizontal position, equilibrium |
| 2 | German | Gleichgewicht | equilibrium; balance, poise |
| 3 | German | gleich | equal; same; very similar; same; identical |
| 4 | Middle High German | gelīch | — |
| 5 | Old High German | gilīh | equal |
| 6 | Proto-West Germanic | galīk | alike, similar |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | galīkaz | alike, similar; equal |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | leyǵ- | to bind, tie |