Where does “naturalism” come from?
Naturalism derives from English natural combined with the Ancient Greek suffix -ισμός, which builds on -μός, ultimately from Latin naturalis, formed from the root nascor meaning "to be born."
naturalism (English): A state of nature; conformity to nature; The...
Definitions
- A state of nature; conformity to nature; The...
Ancestry of “naturalism”, step by step
naturalism traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English natural
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | natural | That exists and evolved within the confines of an... |
| 2 | Middle English | natural | intrinsic, fundamental, basic; relating to... |
| 3 | Old French | natural | natural |
| 4 | Latin | nātūrālis | natural by birth, legitimate |
| 5 | Latin | nātūra | the nature, quality, substance or essence of a thing |
| 6 | Latin | nātus | born, arisen, made |
| 7 | Latin | gnātus | — |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | gnātos | born |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵn̥h₁tós | begotten, produced |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵenh₁- | to produce, to beget, to give birth |
via French naturalisme
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | naturalisme | naturalism |