Where does “microcosmic” come from?
Microcosmic comes from English microcosm plus the French suffix -ique, derived from Latin -icus and Proto-Indo-European -kos, an adjectival suffix.
microcosmic (English): Of, or relating to the microcosm
Definitions
- Of, or relating to the microcosm
Ancestry of “microcosmic”, step by step
microcosmic traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via French microcosmique
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | microcosmique | microcosmic |
| 2 | French | -ique | Used to form adjectives from nouns: -ic, -ical,... |
| 3 | Middle French | -ique | ic |
| 4 | Old French | -ique | -ic |
| 5 | Latin | -icus | belonging to; derived from; of or pertaining to;... |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | *-ikos | forms adjectives with the sense of 'of or pertaining to' |
via English microcosm
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | microcosm | Human nature or the human body as representative... |
| 2 | French | microcosme | microcosm |
| 3 | French | micro- | micro |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | μικρός | little, small |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | mēy- | soft, tender, dear |