Where does “monotonic” come from?

Monotonic derives from Ancient Greek monotonikos, formed from monos (single) and tonikos (relating to tone), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European -kos, an adjectival suffix.

monotonic (English): of or using the Greek system of diacritics which...

Definitions

  1. of or using the Greek system of diacritics which...

Ancestry of “monotonic”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekμονότονοςmonotone
2Ancient Greekτόνοςrope, cord; chord; tone, note
3Proto-Hellenictónosrope, cord; tension
4Proto-Indo-Europeantónossomething stretched; chord, fiber, string
5Proto-Indo-Europeanten-to stretch, to extend

Words derived from “monotonic”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ten- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European tónos →Every word from Proto-Hellenic tónos →