Where does “myasthenia” come from?
Myasthenia combines English my- with asthenia, from Ancient Greek ἀσθένεια meaning weakness, derived from ἀσθενής weak, with ἀ- and Proto-Indo-European n̥- negating sem-.
myasthenia (English): Abnormal weakness of the muscles; but especially...
Definitions
- Abnormal weakness of the muscles; but especially...
Ancestry of “myasthenia”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ancient Greek | ἀσθένεια | weakness; sickness; moral weakness, depravity |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | ἀσθενής | without strength, weak; feeble, sickly; sick, ill |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | σθένος | strength, might, power |
| 4 | English | micro- | API; Very small; One millionth |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | μικρο- | micro |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | μικρός | little, small |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | mēy- | soft, tender, dear |