Where does “flow state” come from?
flow state (English) comes from English State, from Middle English stat, from Old French estat, from Latin stātus, from Latin stō, from Proto-Italic staēō, from Proto-Indo-European sth₂éh₁yeti, from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂-.
flow state (English): A mental condition of complete absorption in an activity, marked by focused attention, diminished self-consciousness, and an altered sense of time, in which performance feels effortless and intrinsically rewarding
Definitions
- A mental condition of complete absorption in an activity, marked by focused attention, diminished self-consciousness, and an altered sense of time, in which performance feels effortless and intrinsically rewarding
Ancestry of “flow state”, step by step
flow state traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English State
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | State | A current governing polity; The current governing... |
| 2 | Middle English | stat | condition |
| 3 | Old French | estat | state; government; condition |
| 4 | Latin | stātus | fixed, set, having been set |
| 5 | Latin | stō | to stand |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | staēō | stand |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | sth₂éh₁yeti | to stand |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | *steh₂- | — |
via English flow
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | flow | A movement in people or things with a particular... |
| 2 | Middle English | flowen | To flow, stream, or issue; to move; To become... |
| 3 | Old English | flōwan | to flow |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | *flōan | to flow |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | flōaną | to flow |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | plōw- | to flow, swim; to pour, wash |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | plew- | to fly, flow, run |