Where does “hysterical” come from?
Hysterical derives from English hysteric, which comes from Ancient Greek ὑστερικός, ultimately from ὑστέρα meaning uterus and the comparative suffix -teros in Proto-Indo-European.
hysterical (English): Of, or arising from hysteria; Having, or prone to...
Definitions
- Of, or arising from hysteria; Having, or prone to...
Ancestry of “hysterical”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | hysteric | Hysterical; relating to hysteria; A hysterical... |
| 2 | Latin | hystericus | hysterical |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | ὑστερικός | suffering in the uterus, hysterical; relating to... |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | -ικός | of or pertaining to, in the manner of; -ic |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | -κός | forms adjectives with the sense of 'of or... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | -ḱos | -y, -ic |