Where does “maximal” come from?

Maximal comes from English maximum, which derives from Latin maximus meaning "greatest," ultimately from the Indo-European root *meg- meaning "great."

maximal (English): greatest (in magnitude), highest, most

Definitions

  1. greatest (in magnitude), highest, most

Ancestry of “maximal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1English-álOf or pertaining to. Adjectival suffix appended to various words, often nouns, to produce an adjective form. Often added to words of Latin origin, but used with other words also
2EnglishaldehydeAny of a large class of reactive organic...
3GermanAldehydaldehyde
4Latinalcoholkohl, collyrium, stibium; any other powder...
5Andalusian Arabicكُحُول
6Arabicكحلantimony; kohl, stibnite; black coloring of the...
7Arabicكُحْلantimony; kohl, stibnite
8Akkadianguḫlumkohl, antimony paste

Words derived from “maximal

Every word from Akkadian guḫlumEvery word from English -álEvery word from Arabic كُحْل
maximal — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer