Where does “ethical” come from?
Ethical derives from English ethic, from Latin ethica, from Ancient Greek ἠθική, from Ancient Greek ἠθικός, from Ancient Greek ἦθος meaning character or disposition, from Ancient Greek ἔθος meaning custom or habit, from Ancient Greek ἔθω.
ethical (English): Of or relating to the study of ethics; Of or...
Definitions
- Of or relating to the study of ethics; Of or...
Ancestry of “ethical”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | ethic | Moral, relating to morals; A set of principles of... |
| 2 | German | Ethik | ethics |
| 3 | Old French | ethique | — |
| 4 | Latin | ēthica | — |
| 5 | Late Latin | ethica | — |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | ἠθική | feminine nominative/vocative singular of ἠθικός |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | ἠθικός | of or for morals; moral; expressing character |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | ἦθος | character; custom, habit |
| 9 | Ancient Greek | ἔθος | habit, custom, manner; disposition, temper;... |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | swe-dʰh₁- | — |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰeh₁- | to do, put, place |